Spaun wins US Open and first major with monster putt
Spaun wins US Open and first major with monster putt
The 34-year-old American finished 72 holes at Oakmont on one-under par 279. Photo: Reuters
J.J. Spaun sank a 65-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the US Open on Sunday, capturing his first major title despite bogeys on five of his first six holes.
The 34-year-old American finished 72 holes at Oakmont on one-under par 279 after a closing two-over 72 to defeat Scotland's Robert MacIntyre by two strokes with Norway's Viktor Hovland third on 282.
Well behind for most of the day, Spaun watched US leader Sam Burns and Australian Adam Scott stumble back while he charged back with four birdies on the last seven holes.
Spaun, the first US Open champion to bogey the first three holes in his final round, sank a 40-foot birdie putt at the par-five 12th, a 22-foot birdie putt at 14 and answered a bogey at 15 with a clutch tap-in birdie at 17 to grab the lead before rolling in the clincher at 18.
Spaun wiped tears from his eyes as spectators chanted his name when he walked off the green.
The only prior PGA Tour victory in Spaun's career came at the 2022 Texas Open. (AFP)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
6 hours ago
- RTHK
Duplantis improves on own pole vault record
Duplantis improves on own pole vault record - again Armand Duplantis set a new world record by soaring 6.28m at the Diamond League meet in Stockholm. Photo: TT News Agency via AFP Swedish double Olympic pole vault champion Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis increased his own world record again on Sunday, clearing 6.28 metres to the delight of a home crowd at the Stockholm Diamond League meet. With victory in the event already guaranteed, Duplantis broke the world record for the 12th time as he sailed over the bar at the first attempt to improve on his 6.27m effort at Clermont-Ferrand in February. The 25-year-old ripped off his shirt in celebration and raced down the track in front of jubilant spectators at the Olympic stadium built for the 1912 Games. "It's a magical feeling, it's hard to explain," said Duplantis, who had not before broken the record in Sweden. "I wanted this so bad. I wanted to do this in front of everybody here in Stockholm. "It felt like really something special in the crowd today and I knew that everybody really wanted to see it too. "It'll be one of the greatest memories for me, I think, in my career." Duplantis notched up his 37th victory in 41 Diamond League outings, finishing well ahead of Australia's Kurtis Marschall who managed a best of 5.90m. The US-born Duplantis was in a class of his own in another punishing display of vaulting of the highest order. "I kept saying it was the only thing I was missing in the accolades, to break a record in Sweden," he said. "I've checked off pretty much everything now." Duplantis is the heavy favourite for a third successive world championship gold in Tokyo later this year. He is also a three-time indoor world champion. He first broke the world record in 2020 when he surpassed the 6.16m mark set by Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie. Duplantis intends to push the bar even higher after his Stockholm exploits. "I'm going to jump higher. There's not much between me and 6.30, technically. It's just a few centimetres. I'm just a perfect day away from it," he said. (AFP)
RTHK
8 hours ago
- RTHK
Spaun wins US Open and first major with monster putt
Spaun wins US Open and first major with monster putt The 34-year-old American finished 72 holes at Oakmont on one-under par 279. Photo: Reuters J.J. Spaun sank a 65-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the US Open on Sunday, capturing his first major title despite bogeys on five of his first six holes. The 34-year-old American finished 72 holes at Oakmont on one-under par 279 after a closing two-over 72 to defeat Scotland's Robert MacIntyre by two strokes with Norway's Viktor Hovland third on 282. Well behind for most of the day, Spaun watched US leader Sam Burns and Australian Adam Scott stumble back while he charged back with four birdies on the last seven holes. Spaun, the first US Open champion to bogey the first three holes in his final round, sank a 40-foot birdie putt at the par-five 12th, a 22-foot birdie putt at 14 and answered a bogey at 15 with a clutch tap-in birdie at 17 to grab the lead before rolling in the clincher at 18. Spaun wiped tears from his eyes as spectators chanted his name when he walked off the green. The only prior PGA Tour victory in Spaun's career came at the 2022 Texas Open. (AFP)
RTHK
10 hours ago
- RTHK
Russell triumphs in Canada GP as McLaren drivers crash
Russell triumphs in Canada GP as McLaren drivers crash Russell' victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve earned Mercedes their first win on the season. Photo: Reuters George Russell secured Mercedes' first win of the season in the Canadian Grand Prix as McLaren's championship-chasing drivers crashed in the final laps of an intriguing and hectic race. The 27-year-old Briton beat close rival and four-time world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull by 0.228 seconds under the safety car to claim his fourth career victory with his teenage Mercedes team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli finishing third. The 18-year-old Italian rookie became the third-youngest podium finisher in Formula One history, showing composure in resisting late intense late pressure from championship leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren, who survived a collision with team-mate Lando Norris, on his way to fourth. That ensured he extended his lead in the drivers' standings to 22 points ahead of Norris who crashed into him on lap 67 of the 70-lap race, breaking his front wing as he attempted to pass on the straight. "Yep, I'm sorry," said Norris of his crash with Piastri. "It's all my bad, all my fault. Unlucky, sorry. Stupid from me." Charles Leclerc finished fifth ahead of Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg. Esteban Ocon finished ninth for Haas, marking their 200th race with a solid points finish, ahead of Carlos Sainz for Williams. Russell was delighted to deliver his team's first win since the Las Vegas Grand Prix last year. "It's amazing to be back on the top step. The last time was Vegas and last year here felt like it was a victory lost. But today we obviously got the victory thanks to that incredible pole lap and I am so happy to see Kimi on the podium as well," Russell said. Verstappen was quick to congratulate both Mercedes drivers. "It was quite a good race although we were struggling on the tyres in the first two stints," he added. "We had an aggressive strategy and we managed to hang in there – and this was the maximum possible for us today." Antonelli was greeted enthusiastically by the big crowd at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with his name chanted as he took his podium place. "It was so stressful," he said. "But I am super happy! I had a good start, managed to jump to P3, and just stayed up there in the front. I am so happy to bring this podium home." The top six were all on mediums when the lights went out, Russell reacting quickest to pull clear while Antonelli passed Piastri for third. Verstappen clung on to Russell's early pace, staying within a second of him throughout the opening five laps, and three clear of Antonelli, as he tried to put him under pressure, but by lap seven the Mercedes was 1.5 seconds clear. By lap 10, it was two seconds as the Dutchman eased to save his tyres before pitting early on lap 13, for hards. This promoted Antonelli to P2 behind Russell with Piastri third ahead of Hamilton, Norris and Alonso. Verstappen rejoined ninth as Russell reacted and pitted, returning in seventh on hards before Antonelli pitted from the lead on lap 15 leaving Piastri leading Norris in a McLaren 1-2. Piastri pitted on lap 17 for hards, gifting Norris the lead after starting seventh on hards. After a bright start, Hamilton pitted on lap 16 and came out trapped 10th in traffic, with reported damage to his car, that delayed his pursuit before Russell, on lap 26, swept past Leclerc for second. Two laps later, Leclerc pitted for more hards followed by Norris, who took mediums. "I don't understand this choice," complained Leclerc, knowing it meant he had to pit again. All this restored Russell and Verstappen to lead again ahead of Antonelli and Piastri with Norris charging in fifth, ahead of the two Ferraris. Verstappen was early to pit again, on lap 37, but with a fast out-lap passed Antonelli, as Mercedes responded in vain to the Red Bull under-cut and began the second stops. Only five seconds separated the top four as they began a furious final 10-lap dash to the flag that resulted in the McLarens battling wheel-to-wheel for fourth place near the end when Norris hit the rear of his team-mate's car and crashed out of the race. (AFP)
