Don't count Hatton out…

New York Times

4 hours ago

Spaun surged back after heavy rain delayed play in the final round at Oakmont Country Club, with four birdies on the back nine to win his first major. Getty Images
J.J. Spaun has won the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club with a thrilling late rally.
Spaun, who led after a bogey-free first round, stormed back after play resumed following a weather delay Sunday. Birdies on the 12th, 14th and 17th, then a miraculous long birdie putt on the 18th, sealed his win by two strokes.
This is Spaun's first major championship win. He was the only golfer to finish under-par through 72 holes, with Robert MacIntyre claiming second at 1-over.
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J.J. Spaun wins wild, wet U.S. Open with dramatic birdie putt finish Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Associated Press
Tyrrell Hatton may be three back with 10 to go, but he's risen up to a 9 percent chance of winning this thing. Maybe most importantly, he's the only player near the top of the leaderboard gaining strokes in both approach and off the tee so far today, per DataGolf . And he's not just positive. He's gaining +2.78 strokes tee to green on the field Sunday. For the week, he's gaining 2.97.
So, sure, deep down I think it's between Sam Burns and Adam Scott and will be one of them — but you really should be keeping an eye on Hatton. Associated Press
The weather conditions are starting to improve in terms of electricity and showers, per a USGA Rules Official on the NBC broadcast.
But no word yet on the resumption time of the final round. Getty Images
Perusing DataGolf.com as we wait this out — Sam Burns has a 46.6 percent chance of winning right now, followed by Adam Scott's 27.7 percent.
More interesting to me is the probability of the winning score: 2-under : 19.8 percent
: 19.8 percent 1-under : 26.2 percent
: 26.2 percent Even par : 22.6 percent
: 22.6 percent 1-over: 11 percent The Athletic
This weather delay is the perfect time to get involved with our coverage.
Who do you think is going to win the 2025 U.S. Open? Are we going to be able to finish this thing up today? And have you enjoyed watching the last four rounds at Oakmont, or was the course just too difficult to make for truly exciting viewing?
Let us know by emailing [e-mail].
The top contenders were already struggling enough — Sam Burns, Adam Scott and Viktor Hovland have all lost two strokes, and J.J. Spaun five — and now the conditions are going to add another element to the equation once play does resume. Who can be a mudder?
Even if the rain holds up enough to allow them to get back on the course, it's probably not done falling. So who can manage their equipment and just stay present enough to focus on the next shot over everything else?
If I had to guess, it's Tyrrell Hatton, who is tied-third at 1-over-par, three shots behind Burns. Hatton is, he'll admit, almost always miserable anyways. What's being wet on top of that? Getty Images
The good news is that, according to AccuWeather , the current downpour at Oakmont should stop within a matter of minutes. Then it will be a matter of ensuring there are no lightning strikes in the area and determining when the greens will be safe to play.
The bad news is that rainy conditions are expected to continue throughout the afternoon and worsen in the evening, when thunderstorms and a 64 percent chance of rain are forecast for the 8 p.m. hour.
It may come down to the wire to see whether the U.S. Open can complete its final round on schedule today before the worst of the storm hits around sundown.
Sky Sports in the UK are reporting the weather delay is currently expected to last for somewhere around 45 minutes. Getty Images
Despite drifting down the leaderboard early in the round, both Viktor Hovland and J.J. Spaun are within arms reach of the lead here at Oakmont.
Spaun earned a par on the 8th, remaining +2 overall and +5 on the day. He bogeyed five of his first six holes. Hovland will be coming off a bogey on the 8th, his third of the round. He sits at +2 for the round and +1 overall.
These two will resume play on the 467-yard, par-4 9th, featuring a relatively straight fairway proteced by various bunkers. Associated Press
Adam Scott and Sam Burns were standing on the eighth tee as the rain began pelting down at Oakmont. They didn't even tee off at the lengthy par-3 before the horn blew, stopping play due to a weather delay.
When the round resumes, the final group has a 301-yard par-3 to come back to. A tough restart, isn't it? Associated Press
We are officially in a weather delay.
This is not just about the rain. There is electricity in the area. The players are going to be evacuated.
There's a lot of standing water on the course… Getty Images
Moments before play was suspended, the right bunker welcomed Viktor Hovland to the par-3 8th.
He recovered with a nice shot out, which landed within 10 feet for par. The par putt drifted left and he tapped in for bogey, dropping to +1 overall.
J.J Spaun's tee shot found the green but he was left looking at 61 feet for birdie. He left it a couple feet right of the hole but cleaned up for a par to remain at +2. Getty Images
Bad news, folks.
Play has been suspended at the 2025 U.S. Open due to adverse weather conditions. Getty Images
There's already standing water on the greens, and the heavy stuff might not come down for a while…
Those are two solid pars for Sam Burns and Adam Scott. The Aussie nearly sank a mammoth 52-foot birdie putt, leaving it inches short of the pin.
The American missed the 35 footer for birdie before making par. Burns leads by one over Scott heading to the lengthy par-3 eighth. Getty Images
Rainfall is picking up by the minute here at Oakmont. From a sprinkle to a drizzle to now a heavy patter atop the media center roof, which is next to 18 fairway.
The only bright spot to this development is it's forced Viktor Hovland into a rain jacket and we're longer having to watch him walk around in three different shades of blue between pants, belt and polo. Getty Images
A tidy two-putt from Tyrrell Hatton on eight to remain within three strokes of the leader, Sam Burns. The Englishman is scrapping hard.
Hatton has improved both his score (73, 70, 68) and greens in regulation (12, 14, 15) each day so far this week. He's very much in this thing. Getty Images
A birdie would have been big for J.J. Spaun there, instead he has to settle for a par. After a nice approach shot, he had a 28-foot look for birdie but couldn't convert despite a great roll.
Viktor Hovland met a similar fate, leaving a 27-foot birdie putt within two feet and tapping in a par. Getty Images
That's a sloppy bogey for Adam Scott on the par-3 sixth. He three putted from 37 feet on the green, recording his third bogey of the final round.
With Sam Burns' par, the American retains his solo lead at 2 under. The Aussie falls to 1 under.