J.J. Spaun wins US Open in final round thriller at Oakmont
World number 25 J.J. Spaun drained the longest putt of the week to birdie the 18th and win a wild US Open by two shots over Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, while Aussie hero Adam Scott faded in the final round to finish in a tie for 12th.
Spaun held the lead at times during the third round, but seemed out of contention after shooting five bogeys in the first six holes of the final round.
As the brutally tough Oakmont course was made even harder by near constant rain and a 90 minute delay due to dangerous weather, Spaun made four birdies on the back nine to claim an unlikely major win.
Needing just a two-putt on 18 to secure victory, Spaun holed a 64-foot monster in torrential rain to take an emotional win.
Meanwhile Scott, playing with overnight leader Sam Burns in the final round, couldn't handle the wet conditions and finished nine over par for the day and +6 for the tournament.
Scott was attempting to break the record for the longest gap between first and second majors, 12 years after his Masters win, but the wait continues.
Scott didn't do much wrong on the front nine in horrendous conditions, but will rue a misfiring driver, while his iron play was slightly off on approach.
The 44-year-old putted remarkably well, but was too often left with tough 30 or 40 footers to score.
Scott hit four bogeys and a birdie on a rollercoaster front nine as dark rain clouds hovered over the course all day.
JJ Spaun wins US Open
In his scintillating third round, he made back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14, but came unstuck on the par four 14th in the final round.
The former world number one hit his tee shot into a bunker, miscued his chip out and did well just to card a bogey five.
The horror hole was the beginning of the end.
Scott bogeyed four of the final five holes, including a double on 16 for a disappointing end.
At the top of the leaderboard though, Spaun had never previously recorded a top 20 at a major and had even considered quitting the sport last year.
Even midway through the manic fourth round, he seemed out of the running after shooting 40 on the front nine.
Adam Scott faded away across the back nine. Picture:But as the lead chopped and changed in the final two hours, Spaun found some form, and finished well, becoming the only player to finish the championship under par.
At one point, Spaun was in a five-way tie for first before emerging from the field down the stretch.
Only seven players in the entire field shot below par in the fourth round, with MacIntyre's -2 propelling him into second spot.
Viktor Hovland (+2) finished third, with Cameron Young, Hatton and Carlos Ortiz tied for fourth at +3.
Jason Day shot a final round three over par to finish in a tie for 23rd, with fellow Aussies Marc Leishman (+11) tied for 38th and Cam Davis (+22) in 64th.
Re-live the final round of the 125th US Open in our blog below.
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The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
100 not out: Scott's consolation after US Open crash
Exemption to a magnificent 100th consecutive major championship is the silver lining to Adam Scott's latest crushing collapse. Scott's late fade in "near unplayable" conditions from a share of the lead on the 12th hole to a tie for 12th at the US Open adds to the list of agonising finishes for Australia's former world No.1. It was not quite as dramatic as Scott's meltdown at Royal Lytham in 2012, when he had one hand on the famous Claret Jug only to blow a four-shot lead with four holes to play to gift Ernie Els the British Open trophy. His latest near miss was more a death by a thousand cuts as the beastly Oakmont Country Club lived up to its reputation as the most demanding course on the US Open rota. Scottish runner-up Robert MacIntyre was the only player on the water-logged course after a 68-minute storm-forced suspension to shoot under par during the final round. Playing in the final group, Scott and third-round leader Sam Burns carded 79 and 78 respectively. Yet both were still right in the thick of contention, just one stroke off the lead, before having their winning chances dashed on the 15th hole. "We must have looked horrible, both of us playing like that," Scott said. "But that's what can happen in these things. If you get a little off, you're just severely punished. "It just wasn't easy out there. All things being equal, it's Sunday of the US Open, one of the hardest set-ups and the conditions were the hardest of the week. "Thank God it wasn't like this all week. Once the fairways were soaked, it was very hard controlling the golf ball. "The course just couldn't take much more water really. It was borderline unplayable." After driving supremely all week, when he joined Curtis Strange and Shane Lowry as only the third player in history to start a US Open at Oakmont with three rounds of 70 or better, Scott lamented missing too many fairways on Sunday (Monday AEST). "I felt better before the rain delay, that's for sure," Scott said. "I went back out feeling okay but then I left every tee shot to the right coming in, and that was impossible to recover from almost. "I didn't adapt to those conditions well enough. The water was so close to the surface. Like the shot I hit on 11, it's bizarre. I just don't know, it was like an aquaplane on the ground. "It's a tough call, but we played. Everyone had to deal with it." Turning 45 next month, Scott had been bidding to become the oldest US Open champion since Hale Irwin in 1990, and the second-oldest winner ever. He would also have joined five-times British Open winner Peter Thomson, his idol Greg Norman, who claimed the Claret Jug twice, and David Graham as only the fourth Australian man to capture multiple major championships. The popular Queenslander had the chance to follow Graham, the 1979 PGA Championship and 1981 US Open champion, as the only Aussie to snare two majors in America. Alas, the golfing gods once again conspired against him. But in a small consolation that will have big ramifications for his legacy, Scott is guaranteed a start at next year's Open at Shinnecock Hills courtesy of his top-12 finish in Pennsylvania. After teeing it up for 96 straight majors, the longest streak among active players, Scott is exempt for next month's British Open as well as the 2026 Masters and PGA Championship. At least he won't be left stranded on 99. Exemption to a magnificent 100th consecutive major championship is the silver lining to Adam Scott's latest crushing collapse. Scott's late fade in "near unplayable" conditions from a share of the lead on the 12th hole to a tie for 12th at the US Open adds to the list of agonising finishes for Australia's former world No.1. It was not quite as dramatic as Scott's meltdown at Royal Lytham in 2012, when he had one hand on the famous Claret Jug only to blow a four-shot lead with four holes to play to gift Ernie Els the British Open trophy. His latest near miss was more a death by a thousand cuts as the beastly Oakmont Country Club lived up to its reputation as the most demanding course on the US Open rota. Scottish runner-up Robert MacIntyre was the only player on the water-logged course after a 68-minute storm-forced suspension to shoot under par during the final round. Playing in the final group, Scott and third-round leader Sam Burns carded 79 and 78 respectively. Yet both were still right in the thick of contention, just one stroke off the lead, before having their winning chances dashed on the 15th hole. "We must have looked horrible, both of us playing like that," Scott said. "But that's what can happen in these things. If you get a little off, you're just severely punished. "It just wasn't easy out there. All things being equal, it's Sunday of the US Open, one of the hardest set-ups and the conditions were the hardest of the week. "Thank God it wasn't like this all week. Once the fairways were soaked, it was very hard controlling the golf ball. "The course just couldn't take much more water really. It was borderline unplayable." After driving supremely all week, when he joined Curtis Strange and Shane Lowry as only the third player in history to start a US Open at Oakmont with three rounds of 70 or better, Scott lamented missing too many fairways on Sunday (Monday AEST). "I felt better before the rain delay, that's for sure," Scott said. "I went back out feeling okay but then I left every tee shot to the right coming in, and that was impossible to recover from almost. "I didn't adapt to those conditions well enough. The water was so close to the surface. Like the shot I hit on 11, it's bizarre. I just don't know, it was like an aquaplane on the ground. "It's a tough call, but we played. Everyone had to deal with it." Turning 45 next month, Scott had been bidding to become the oldest US Open champion since Hale Irwin in 1990, and the second-oldest winner ever. He would also have joined five-times British Open winner Peter Thomson, his idol Greg Norman, who claimed the Claret Jug twice, and David Graham as only the fourth Australian man to capture multiple major championships. The popular Queenslander had the chance to follow Graham, the 1979 PGA Championship and 1981 US Open champion, as the only Aussie to snare two majors in America. Alas, the golfing gods once again conspired against him. But in a small consolation that will have big ramifications for his legacy, Scott is guaranteed a start at next year's Open at Shinnecock Hills courtesy of his top-12 finish in Pennsylvania. After teeing it up for 96 straight majors, the longest streak among active players, Scott is exempt for next month's British Open as well as the 2026 Masters and PGA Championship. At least he won't be left stranded on 99. Exemption to a magnificent 100th consecutive major championship is the silver lining to Adam Scott's latest crushing collapse. Scott's late fade in "near unplayable" conditions from a share of the lead on the 12th hole to a tie for 12th at the US Open adds to the list of agonising finishes for Australia's former world No.1. It was not quite as dramatic as Scott's meltdown at Royal Lytham in 2012, when he had one hand on the famous Claret Jug only to blow a four-shot lead with four holes to play to gift Ernie Els the British Open trophy. His latest near miss was more a death by a thousand cuts as the beastly Oakmont Country Club lived up to its reputation as the most demanding course on the US Open rota. Scottish runner-up Robert MacIntyre was the only player on the water-logged course after a 68-minute storm-forced suspension to shoot under par during the final round. Playing in the final group, Scott and third-round leader Sam Burns carded 79 and 78 respectively. Yet both were still right in the thick of contention, just one stroke off the lead, before having their winning chances dashed on the 15th hole. "We must have looked horrible, both of us playing like that," Scott said. "But that's what can happen in these things. If you get a little off, you're just severely punished. "It just wasn't easy out there. All things being equal, it's Sunday of the US Open, one of the hardest set-ups and the conditions were the hardest of the week. "Thank God it wasn't like this all week. Once the fairways were soaked, it was very hard controlling the golf ball. "The course just couldn't take much more water really. It was borderline unplayable." After driving supremely all week, when he joined Curtis Strange and Shane Lowry as only the third player in history to start a US Open at Oakmont with three rounds of 70 or better, Scott lamented missing too many fairways on Sunday (Monday AEST). "I felt better before the rain delay, that's for sure," Scott said. "I went back out feeling okay but then I left every tee shot to the right coming in, and that was impossible to recover from almost. "I didn't adapt to those conditions well enough. The water was so close to the surface. Like the shot I hit on 11, it's bizarre. I just don't know, it was like an aquaplane on the ground. "It's a tough call, but we played. Everyone had to deal with it." Turning 45 next month, Scott had been bidding to become the oldest US Open champion since Hale Irwin in 1990, and the second-oldest winner ever. He would also have joined five-times British Open winner Peter Thomson, his idol Greg Norman, who claimed the Claret Jug twice, and David Graham as only the fourth Australian man to capture multiple major championships. The popular Queenslander had the chance to follow Graham, the 1979 PGA Championship and 1981 US Open champion, as the only Aussie to snare two majors in America. Alas, the golfing gods once again conspired against him. But in a small consolation that will have big ramifications for his legacy, Scott is guaranteed a start at next year's Open at Shinnecock Hills courtesy of his top-12 finish in Pennsylvania. After teeing it up for 96 straight majors, the longest streak among active players, Scott is exempt for next month's British Open as well as the 2026 Masters and PGA Championship. At least he won't be left stranded on 99. Exemption to a magnificent 100th consecutive major championship is the silver lining to Adam Scott's latest crushing collapse. Scott's late fade in "near unplayable" conditions from a share of the lead on the 12th hole to a tie for 12th at the US Open adds to the list of agonising finishes for Australia's former world No.1. It was not quite as dramatic as Scott's meltdown at Royal Lytham in 2012, when he had one hand on the famous Claret Jug only to blow a four-shot lead with four holes to play to gift Ernie Els the British Open trophy. His latest near miss was more a death by a thousand cuts as the beastly Oakmont Country Club lived up to its reputation as the most demanding course on the US Open rota. Scottish runner-up Robert MacIntyre was the only player on the water-logged course after a 68-minute storm-forced suspension to shoot under par during the final round. Playing in the final group, Scott and third-round leader Sam Burns carded 79 and 78 respectively. Yet both were still right in the thick of contention, just one stroke off the lead, before having their winning chances dashed on the 15th hole. "We must have looked horrible, both of us playing like that," Scott said. "But that's what can happen in these things. If you get a little off, you're just severely punished. "It just wasn't easy out there. All things being equal, it's Sunday of the US Open, one of the hardest set-ups and the conditions were the hardest of the week. "Thank God it wasn't like this all week. Once the fairways were soaked, it was very hard controlling the golf ball. "The course just couldn't take much more water really. It was borderline unplayable." After driving supremely all week, when he joined Curtis Strange and Shane Lowry as only the third player in history to start a US Open at Oakmont with three rounds of 70 or better, Scott lamented missing too many fairways on Sunday (Monday AEST). "I felt better before the rain delay, that's for sure," Scott said. "I went back out feeling okay but then I left every tee shot to the right coming in, and that was impossible to recover from almost. "I didn't adapt to those conditions well enough. The water was so close to the surface. Like the shot I hit on 11, it's bizarre. I just don't know, it was like an aquaplane on the ground. "It's a tough call, but we played. Everyone had to deal with it." Turning 45 next month, Scott had been bidding to become the oldest US Open champion since Hale Irwin in 1990, and the second-oldest winner ever. He would also have joined five-times British Open winner Peter Thomson, his idol Greg Norman, who claimed the Claret Jug twice, and David Graham as only the fourth Australian man to capture multiple major championships. The popular Queenslander had the chance to follow Graham, the 1979 PGA Championship and 1981 US Open champion, as the only Aussie to snare two majors in America. Alas, the golfing gods once again conspired against him. But in a small consolation that will have big ramifications for his legacy, Scott is guaranteed a start at next year's Open at Shinnecock Hills courtesy of his top-12 finish in Pennsylvania. After teeing it up for 96 straight majors, the longest streak among active players, Scott is exempt for next month's British Open as well as the 2026 Masters and PGA Championship. At least he won't be left stranded on 99.
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Spaun drains monster putt for unlikely US Open triumph
As Adam Scott laments falling painfully short of landing an evasive second career major, American JJ Spaun is crediting a pep talk from his coaches for winning one of the wildest US Open championships in history. While Scott collapsed down the stretch, like so many others, Spaun emerged triumphant after a disastrous start to his final round in Pittsburgh to claim a two-shot victory over Scotland's Robert MacIntyre. Runner-up in a play-off to Rory McIlroy at the Players Championship in March, the unheralded Spaun once again showed his class and resilience with a Sunday comeback for the ages. After starting the day level with Scott and just one shot adrift of American leader Sam Burns, Spaun dropped five strokes in the first six holes to fall five behind. But he regrouped after a 96-minute weather delay to run down the leaders, closing with a final-round 72 as the fearsome Oakmont Country Club reduced the world's best players to week-day hackers. The 34-year-old sealed victory in the most stylish and spectacular fashion with a 64-foot birdie putt - the longest-holed putt of the week - at the last hole. Spaun's winning one-under-par 279 total earned the Californian the Jack Nicklaus gold medal, the US Open Trophy, a $US4.3 million ($A6.6 million) cheque and his maiden major championship, having never previously posted a top-20 finish at any of golf's four biggest events. Fittingly, Spaun also joined Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Tom Watson and Jon Rahm in winning the US Open with a birdie-birdie finish. The champion could not have imagined such an outcome after his luckless start included his ball cruelly ricocheting off the flag and off the green on the second hole. "Yeah, the wheels were falling off early," Spaun said. "But it wasn't totally my fault. I was getting some unlucky breaks, bounces - a great shot on two that literally was a two-shot swing." Spaun reckons his coaches saying "dude, just chill" during the rain break revived his fortunes. "They just said 'Just let it come to you. Be calm. Stop trying so hard. If you were given four shots back going into the back nine on Monday, you would take that'," Spaun said. "That's what I was doing. I felt like I had a chance, a really good chance to win the US Open at the start of the day. It just unravelled very fast. "But that break was actually the key for me to winning this tournament." MacIntyre's final-round 68 was enough to secure second outright, with Norwegian star Victor Hovland (73) third a further shot back at two over. Playing in the final group, Scott faded with a final-round 79 to tie for 12th at six over. Bidding to become the oldest US Open champion since Hale Irwin in 1990, 44-year-old Scott made a nervy start with bogeys on the first and third holes. Such was the carnage that, despite dropping four shots for his round, Scott was still in a five-way tie for the lead after scrambling for par at the long 12th. Alas, the Australian's hopes evaporated in a cruel half-hour after the resumption of play due to a flash storm. From a share of the lead, he bogeyed the 14th after driving into the lip of a bunker. Then, even more deflatingly, Scott almost drained a long putt to regain a share of the lead on 15, only for the ball to narrowly miss the pin and roll seven feet past. He missed the return putt and there was no way back for the popular former world No.1. Third-round leader Burns also suffered a late meltdown after being controversially denied a free drop on the soaked 15th fairway. Burns was only one stroke behind at that point, but took a double bogey, then dropped more shots in a demoralising round of 78 to ultimately share seventh spot at four over with 2021 champion Jon Rahm and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler. Finishing with three consecutive birdies in the low round of the day, a three-under 67 in the best of the morning conditions, Rahm dreamed of a miraculous victory from 11 shots back after claiming the clubhouse lead. In a most extraordinary finale, Rahm held that lead for some four hours before Scheffler joined the Spaniard on the score with an even-par 70. But Spaun could not be denied. As Adam Scott laments falling painfully short of landing an evasive second career major, American JJ Spaun is crediting a pep talk from his coaches for winning one of the wildest US Open championships in history. While Scott collapsed down the stretch, like so many others, Spaun emerged triumphant after a disastrous start to his final round in Pittsburgh to claim a two-shot victory over Scotland's Robert MacIntyre. Runner-up in a play-off to Rory McIlroy at the Players Championship in March, the unheralded Spaun once again showed his class and resilience with a Sunday comeback for the ages. After starting the day level with Scott and just one shot adrift of American leader Sam Burns, Spaun dropped five strokes in the first six holes to fall five behind. But he regrouped after a 96-minute weather delay to run down the leaders, closing with a final-round 72 as the fearsome Oakmont Country Club reduced the world's best players to week-day hackers. The 34-year-old sealed victory in the most stylish and spectacular fashion with a 64-foot birdie putt - the longest-holed putt of the week - at the last hole. Spaun's winning one-under-par 279 total earned the Californian the Jack Nicklaus gold medal, the US Open Trophy, a $US4.3 million ($A6.6 million) cheque and his maiden major championship, having never previously posted a top-20 finish at any of golf's four biggest events. Fittingly, Spaun also joined Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Tom Watson and Jon Rahm in winning the US Open with a birdie-birdie finish. The champion could not have imagined such an outcome after his luckless start included his ball cruelly ricocheting off the flag and off the green on the second hole. "Yeah, the wheels were falling off early," Spaun said. "But it wasn't totally my fault. I was getting some unlucky breaks, bounces - a great shot on two that literally was a two-shot swing." Spaun reckons his coaches saying "dude, just chill" during the rain break revived his fortunes. "They just said 'Just let it come to you. Be calm. Stop trying so hard. If you were given four shots back going into the back nine on Monday, you would take that'," Spaun said. "That's what I was doing. I felt like I had a chance, a really good chance to win the US Open at the start of the day. It just unravelled very fast. "But that break was actually the key for me to winning this tournament." MacIntyre's final-round 68 was enough to secure second outright, with Norwegian star Victor Hovland (73) third a further shot back at two over. Playing in the final group, Scott faded with a final-round 79 to tie for 12th at six over. Bidding to become the oldest US Open champion since Hale Irwin in 1990, 44-year-old Scott made a nervy start with bogeys on the first and third holes. Such was the carnage that, despite dropping four shots for his round, Scott was still in a five-way tie for the lead after scrambling for par at the long 12th. Alas, the Australian's hopes evaporated in a cruel half-hour after the resumption of play due to a flash storm. From a share of the lead, he bogeyed the 14th after driving into the lip of a bunker. Then, even more deflatingly, Scott almost drained a long putt to regain a share of the lead on 15, only for the ball to narrowly miss the pin and roll seven feet past. He missed the return putt and there was no way back for the popular former world No.1. Third-round leader Burns also suffered a late meltdown after being controversially denied a free drop on the soaked 15th fairway. Burns was only one stroke behind at that point, but took a double bogey, then dropped more shots in a demoralising round of 78 to ultimately share seventh spot at four over with 2021 champion Jon Rahm and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler. Finishing with three consecutive birdies in the low round of the day, a three-under 67 in the best of the morning conditions, Rahm dreamed of a miraculous victory from 11 shots back after claiming the clubhouse lead. In a most extraordinary finale, Rahm held that lead for some four hours before Scheffler joined the Spaniard on the score with an even-par 70. But Spaun could not be denied. As Adam Scott laments falling painfully short of landing an evasive second career major, American JJ Spaun is crediting a pep talk from his coaches for winning one of the wildest US Open championships in history. While Scott collapsed down the stretch, like so many others, Spaun emerged triumphant after a disastrous start to his final round in Pittsburgh to claim a two-shot victory over Scotland's Robert MacIntyre. Runner-up in a play-off to Rory McIlroy at the Players Championship in March, the unheralded Spaun once again showed his class and resilience with a Sunday comeback for the ages. After starting the day level with Scott and just one shot adrift of American leader Sam Burns, Spaun dropped five strokes in the first six holes to fall five behind. But he regrouped after a 96-minute weather delay to run down the leaders, closing with a final-round 72 as the fearsome Oakmont Country Club reduced the world's best players to week-day hackers. The 34-year-old sealed victory in the most stylish and spectacular fashion with a 64-foot birdie putt - the longest-holed putt of the week - at the last hole. Spaun's winning one-under-par 279 total earned the Californian the Jack Nicklaus gold medal, the US Open Trophy, a $US4.3 million ($A6.6 million) cheque and his maiden major championship, having never previously posted a top-20 finish at any of golf's four biggest events. Fittingly, Spaun also joined Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Tom Watson and Jon Rahm in winning the US Open with a birdie-birdie finish. The champion could not have imagined such an outcome after his luckless start included his ball cruelly ricocheting off the flag and off the green on the second hole. "Yeah, the wheels were falling off early," Spaun said. "But it wasn't totally my fault. I was getting some unlucky breaks, bounces - a great shot on two that literally was a two-shot swing." Spaun reckons his coaches saying "dude, just chill" during the rain break revived his fortunes. "They just said 'Just let it come to you. Be calm. Stop trying so hard. If you were given four shots back going into the back nine on Monday, you would take that'," Spaun said. "That's what I was doing. I felt like I had a chance, a really good chance to win the US Open at the start of the day. It just unravelled very fast. "But that break was actually the key for me to winning this tournament." MacIntyre's final-round 68 was enough to secure second outright, with Norwegian star Victor Hovland (73) third a further shot back at two over. Playing in the final group, Scott faded with a final-round 79 to tie for 12th at six over. Bidding to become the oldest US Open champion since Hale Irwin in 1990, 44-year-old Scott made a nervy start with bogeys on the first and third holes. Such was the carnage that, despite dropping four shots for his round, Scott was still in a five-way tie for the lead after scrambling for par at the long 12th. Alas, the Australian's hopes evaporated in a cruel half-hour after the resumption of play due to a flash storm. From a share of the lead, he bogeyed the 14th after driving into the lip of a bunker. Then, even more deflatingly, Scott almost drained a long putt to regain a share of the lead on 15, only for the ball to narrowly miss the pin and roll seven feet past. He missed the return putt and there was no way back for the popular former world No.1. Third-round leader Burns also suffered a late meltdown after being controversially denied a free drop on the soaked 15th fairway. Burns was only one stroke behind at that point, but took a double bogey, then dropped more shots in a demoralising round of 78 to ultimately share seventh spot at four over with 2021 champion Jon Rahm and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler. Finishing with three consecutive birdies in the low round of the day, a three-under 67 in the best of the morning conditions, Rahm dreamed of a miraculous victory from 11 shots back after claiming the clubhouse lead. In a most extraordinary finale, Rahm held that lead for some four hours before Scheffler joined the Spaniard on the score with an even-par 70. But Spaun could not be denied. As Adam Scott laments falling painfully short of landing an evasive second career major, American JJ Spaun is crediting a pep talk from his coaches for winning one of the wildest US Open championships in history. While Scott collapsed down the stretch, like so many others, Spaun emerged triumphant after a disastrous start to his final round in Pittsburgh to claim a two-shot victory over Scotland's Robert MacIntyre. Runner-up in a play-off to Rory McIlroy at the Players Championship in March, the unheralded Spaun once again showed his class and resilience with a Sunday comeback for the ages. After starting the day level with Scott and just one shot adrift of American leader Sam Burns, Spaun dropped five strokes in the first six holes to fall five behind. But he regrouped after a 96-minute weather delay to run down the leaders, closing with a final-round 72 as the fearsome Oakmont Country Club reduced the world's best players to week-day hackers. The 34-year-old sealed victory in the most stylish and spectacular fashion with a 64-foot birdie putt - the longest-holed putt of the week - at the last hole. Spaun's winning one-under-par 279 total earned the Californian the Jack Nicklaus gold medal, the US Open Trophy, a $US4.3 million ($A6.6 million) cheque and his maiden major championship, having never previously posted a top-20 finish at any of golf's four biggest events. Fittingly, Spaun also joined Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Tom Watson and Jon Rahm in winning the US Open with a birdie-birdie finish. The champion could not have imagined such an outcome after his luckless start included his ball cruelly ricocheting off the flag and off the green on the second hole. "Yeah, the wheels were falling off early," Spaun said. "But it wasn't totally my fault. I was getting some unlucky breaks, bounces - a great shot on two that literally was a two-shot swing." Spaun reckons his coaches saying "dude, just chill" during the rain break revived his fortunes. "They just said 'Just let it come to you. Be calm. Stop trying so hard. If you were given four shots back going into the back nine on Monday, you would take that'," Spaun said. "That's what I was doing. I felt like I had a chance, a really good chance to win the US Open at the start of the day. It just unravelled very fast. "But that break was actually the key for me to winning this tournament." MacIntyre's final-round 68 was enough to secure second outright, with Norwegian star Victor Hovland (73) third a further shot back at two over. Playing in the final group, Scott faded with a final-round 79 to tie for 12th at six over. Bidding to become the oldest US Open champion since Hale Irwin in 1990, 44-year-old Scott made a nervy start with bogeys on the first and third holes. Such was the carnage that, despite dropping four shots for his round, Scott was still in a five-way tie for the lead after scrambling for par at the long 12th. Alas, the Australian's hopes evaporated in a cruel half-hour after the resumption of play due to a flash storm. From a share of the lead, he bogeyed the 14th after driving into the lip of a bunker. Then, even more deflatingly, Scott almost drained a long putt to regain a share of the lead on 15, only for the ball to narrowly miss the pin and roll seven feet past. He missed the return putt and there was no way back for the popular former world No.1. Third-round leader Burns also suffered a late meltdown after being controversially denied a free drop on the soaked 15th fairway. Burns was only one stroke behind at that point, but took a double bogey, then dropped more shots in a demoralising round of 78 to ultimately share seventh spot at four over with 2021 champion Jon Rahm and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler. Finishing with three consecutive birdies in the low round of the day, a three-under 67 in the best of the morning conditions, Rahm dreamed of a miraculous victory from 11 shots back after claiming the clubhouse lead. In a most extraordinary finale, Rahm held that lead for some four hours before Scheffler joined the Spaniard on the score with an even-par 70. But Spaun could not be denied.
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- News.com.au
11-six innings in California a one-off return to form for Jake Fraser-McGurk who is battling to be the man Australian cricket hoped
A reconfigured baseball stadium in California provided the launch pad for one-time boom batter Jake Fraser McGurk to refind his mojo. After a horror IPL, which came on the back of a run of single figure scores in a surprise return for Australia after a poor Big Bash, Fraser-McGurk blasted 11 sixes in a single MLC innings to serve a reminder of what he's capable of. It's been carnage for bowlers in Oakland, and Fraser-McGurk joined in the fun. But it proved a fleeting performance, and just two days later he was out for single figures again, for the 10th time in 12 T20 innings around the globe, as boom again turned to bust for a batter who had been a great white-ball hope. Hang these shots in the Louvre 🖼 Jake was doing damage today at The Coliseum ðŸ�Ÿ #GoCorns — San Francisco Unicorns (@SFOUnicorns) June 15, 2025 Fraser-McGurk, 23, and already with 14 internationals for Australia under his belt, started his tenure with the San Francisco Unicorns like he ended his time with the Delhi Capitals. Six innings in the IPL in India, where he was earning $1.6m after a blockbuster 2024 season where he kept David Warner out of the side, yielded just 55 runs, and 38 of those came in one innings. That score of 38 came after he made 11 in two ODIs for Australia in Sri Lanka, and was followed by another four more IPL single-figure scores before Fraser-McGurk lost his spot. Moving to the US, where games are being played at the Oakland baseball stadium, where Kiwi Fin Allen has blasted 25 sixes in just three innings, Fraser-McGurk opened with a nine-ball innings of just six runs. The all-or-nothing approach he's taken to T20 batting came off enough times in the past for even the likes of Glenn Maxwell to declare Fraser-McGurk had 'so much talent' that he could become a weapon for Australia. But there were more misses than hits until finally Fraser-McGurk was able to launch into a bowling attack that included Andre Russell and fellow Aussie Tanveer Sangha. Fraser-McGurk went on a rampage, swatting 11 sixes and two fours in a 38-ball innings of 88 that propelled the Unicorns to a victory. 'It's been a while since I have got runs in this format, it's about contributing to the side and I'm happy,' he said after finally netting some runs, thanking coach Shane Watson, a man who has also mentored another teen tyro, Sam Konstas. 'They have been working hard, I'm lucky the ground is not that big, conditions suit batters.' The boom, however, lasted less than 48 hours, and on Monday Fraser-McGurk was out for one, Kiwi veteran Trent Boult securing another early dismissal. Take the 88 and 38 out of Fraser-McGurk's last 10 innings at the top level, and he has 35 runs, with two ducks. He only averaged 18 in the BBL last summer, boosted by a late innings of 95, and the jury remains out on whether he'll be the player so many hoped he would.
