Monetary Success Amassed Rapidly by JJ Spaun: From a Season Earnings of $825 to $4.3 Million in a Week - a Testament to the Profitability of Refusing to Give Up

Here Comes the Underdog:

June 16, 2025

This past Sunday evening, JJ Spaun pulled off a jaw-dropping 65-foot putt at the U.S. Open to claim a two-stroke victory and finally grab a piece of the Major championship pie.

Look, let's be real here. A decade ago, very few people would've thought Spaun would ever sniff a Major, less grab one. But as they say, nice guys don't always finish last.

Remember, what's past is past. This Cali kid grew up in California, never received a single formal golf lesson, and yet, he managed to play golf as a walk-on for San Diego State University. Now that's some raw talent!

With no fancy academy or AJGA under his belt, Spaun's golf game was self-made. He enjoyed a bang-up college career before plunging into life on the PGA Tour Canada in 2012. Flash forward to 2025, and Spaun used every bit of that stubbornness to write himself into golf's history books.

As he stood there, holding the U.S. Open trophy, Spaun reminisced on his journey:

"Growing up, I was all about golf. I practiced with my parents. One thing led to another. I didn't have fancy training or anything. I just kept plugging along - junior golf, college golf, turning pro, and now this."

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Spaun's path to the pros was far from conventional. When he reached the paid ranks, his mentality was tough as nails. Life on the PGA tour has been a long, hard road for the man. But hey, he's made of strong stuff.

Mondays Q Info's Ryan French penned a post on X that chronicled Spaun's remarkable journey, year by year. Remember, every successful athlete has fought the good fight, and Spaun's story is no exception.

Struggles and Triumphs

If you recall, the initial years were brutal. 2013 and 2014 saw Spaun picking up a measly $12,000 across the two seasons. It wasn't until 2015 that he started breaking records with his wins and high finishes on the PGA Tour Canada and setting the single-season earnings record.

A successful year on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2016 secured him a PGA tour card, but the following years were a struggle. Spaun ended between 62nd and 185th on the FedEx Cup points list through 2019. However, he bounced back in 2022, clinched his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Valero Texas Open, and established his position in the sport for a couple more seasons at least.

So, how did he do it? How did the underdog keep pushing through the hard times, learning from his mistakes, and climbing up the ranks?

After his U.S. Open victory, Spaun said:

"Last June, I was looking like I was going to lose my job. I figured, if this is how I go down, I might as well go out swinging. That's kind of the mantra I've been sticking to all year - just give it everything you've got when you step up to the tee, no matter the situation."

History in the Making

The final chapter of Spaun's Cinderella story concluded with a stunning 65-foot bomb on the 72nd hole at Oakmont, winning him the U.S. Open in true blockbuster fashion.

For a man who's played second fiddle for much of his career, this win was a dream come true. Spaun beamed, "It's like a storybook ending – a fairytale underdog win. I'm just so lucky to be here."

Footnote

[1] Source: BBC News[2] Source: ESPN[3] Source: Golf Digest[4] Source: Golf.com[5] Source: USGA

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