Underdog Golfer J.J. Spaun Triumphs Dramatically in Historical US Open Victory
June 16, 2025: U.S. Open Champ J.J. Spaun Pulls off Major Miracle
Let's face it—Sunday’s U.S. Open was one for the history books. With a staggering 150/1 odds, J.J. Spaun snatched the 125th title at Oakmont Country Club on Father's Day, leaving the golf world buzzing and bookies cringing.
From Rags to Riches
Starting the final round with a shaky five bogeys in his first six holes, it looked like Spaun was destined for a disappointing finish. But the 34-year-old journeyman seemed unfazed. His steely resolve, reminiscent of his performance at this year's Players Championship where he lost to Rory McIlroy in a playoff, shone through.
After a rain delay, Spaun caught fire. He rolled in birdies like a hot knife through butter on the par-5 12th and par-4 14th. A bobble on the 15th led to a bogey, but he quickly recovered with a par on the demanding 16th, setting the stage for one of the tournament's most iconic shots. A bullet drive at the par-4 17th, leaving him just 15 feet from the hole, earned him the outright lead at even par.
Clenching the Crown
With Scotland's Robert MacIntyre in the clubhouse at level par, and the final pairing struggling, Spaun only needed a par at the demanding 18th to secure his first major victory and only his second PGA Tour win.
A straight drive and a safe approach left Spaun 64 feet away from the US Open Championship Trophy. Riding on playing partner Viktor Hovland’s coattails, Spaun’s putt found its mark, securing the historic win.
The Longshots are on a Roll
This year's U.S. Open was filled with upsets, leaving several pretournament favorites, including defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg, and Shane Lowry, heading back to the drawing board.
Rory McIlroy never sparked, and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler’s putter let him down. But as the underdogs tasted the sweet sincerity of victory, Spaun, who was around 150/1 to win before Thursday's first round, became the newest member of the Major Championship club.
From Unranked to Top 10
Spaun's victory has elevated him to the uncharted territory of the World Top 10. With his U.S. Open win—his fifth top-10 finish this year on Tour—Spaun has rocketed 17 spots in the Official World Golf Ranking to No. 8, up from a ranking of No. 119 just last year[1].
Despite his new-found fame, Spaun isn't planning to let it go to his head. He was up at 3 am the morning before the final round making a trip to a 24/7 CVS store to get medicine for one of his daughters. As he celebrated after sunset on the 18th green at Oakmont, one of those daughters said, "Daddy, we've got to leave. It's bedtime."
"We're staying up late tonight," said the US Open champ.
Oh, how our late-night dreams must shine brighter now.
[1] Official World Golf Ranking[2] U.S. Open 2025 Leaderboard[3] J.J. Spaun's U.S. Open Journey[4] Longest Pre-tournament Odds to Win a Major Golf Tournament
- Unfazed by his initial struggles, J.J. Spaun mirrored his performance at the Players Championship, demonstrating a resilient demeanor.
- Following a rain delay, Spaun showcased his gutsy play, recording birdies on the 12th and 14th holes.
- A minor setback on the 15th hole resulted in a bogey, but Spaun quickly regained his composure with a par on the challenging 16th.
- With an impressive drive at the par-4 17th, Spaun gained a 15-foot advantage, taking the outright lead at even par.
- Facing Scotland's Robert MacIntyre and a struggling final pairing, Spaun only needed a par at the 18th to capture his first major victory.
- The persistent Spaun drained his winning putt in the presence of playing partner Viktor Hovland, securing the historic US Open win.
- The unheralded J.J. Spaun, who started the tournament as a 150/1 longshot, joined the ranks of Major Championship winners.
- Despite his meteoric rise in the Official World Golf Ranking to No. 8, Spaun remembered his roots, attending to his daughters' needs before the final round.
- Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, along with other pretournament favorites, failed to live up to expectations, allowing the underdogs to savor victory at the 2025 U.S. Open.
