Spaun clinches US Open triumph through a late surge of birdies, securing his maiden major victory.
Unleashing Unexpected Triumphs: The Staggering Victory of J.J. Spaun at the 2025 U.S. Open
In a jaw-dropping display of resilience, the 34-year-old American, J.J. Spaun, snatched the title of the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, edging past Scotland's Robert MacIntyre by a wide margin of two strokes. The triumphant finale witnessed a thrilling duel, crowned by Spaun's legendary 64-foot, 5-inch birdie putt on the final hole[1][3][4].
Initially, Spaun seemed out of the running, trailing for most of the day. He watched as US leader Sam Burns and Australian Adam Scott stumbled, while he strategically picked up momentum with an impressive streak of four birdies over the last seven holes[5].
"I don't think I kept my composure early on. But I dug deep and hit some great shots coming in," confesses a humble Spaun[5].
The champion's unconventional start saw him bogey the first three holes in his final round. However, he managed to remedy this with a miraculous 40-foot birdie putt at the par-5 12th, followed by a 22-foot birdie putt at 14. A clutch birdie at 17 placed him in the lead, and he clinched the trophy with a precise shot at 18[6].
"When I hit it, I thought it was short. But by the time it was eight feet out, it was looking pretty darn good," Spaun conceded[6].
A deluge of tears and chants from the spectators welcomed Spaun as he collected his top prize of $4.3 million[7]. His only prior victory on the PGA Tour had been at the 2022 Texas Open[8].
Spaun credits a 96-minute weather suspension just before he started the back nine for giving him a much-needed opportunity to regroup[8]. In a rollercoaster back nine, his rivals stumbled, while Spaun soared to victory[2].
Tied for the lead with MacIntyre, Spaun drove the green at the par-4 17th, missed an 18-foot eagle putt but sunk a comeback birdie from just over three feet, securing the lead for good[2].
There's more to the green fairways than meets the eye.
Spain's Jon Rahm, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters in April, finished with a score of 67, sharing seventh place with Burns and top-ranked Scottie Scheffler[9]. Rhett Young fought hard, keeping his shots on the fairway and dialing in his lag putting[9].
"Two keys: Number one would be I kept it in play off the tee. Then my lag putting. I had the speed really dialed in today," Rahm revels[9].
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's McIlroy, who will take on the British Open next month at Portrush, fired a 67, anticipating a heartfelt homecoming[9].
"It will be my first time sort of in public back home after winning the Masters. It should be a really nice week," McIlroy looks forward[9].
© 2025 AFP
[1] [winning putt video] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiUV1IqCqnI)[2] US Open Leaderboard[3] article about Spaun's victory[4] photos of Spaun's victory[5] interview with Spaun after the tournament[6] highlights of Spaun's final round[7] prize money breakdown[8] Spaun's career wins and prize winnings[9] interviews with Rahm, McIlroy, and others after the tournament
In the world of professional golf, J.J. Spaun showcased his skills and grace under pressure at the 2025 U.S. Open, capturing the title with a gripping final round, notably a 64-foot, 5-inch birdie putt on the last hole. Despite early setbacks and a tough competition, Spaun's strategic play and accurate shots propelled him to victory, proving that there's more to the green fairways than meets the eye.
