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Spaun didn't get a successful scramble, but still won

Spaun didn't get a successful scramble, but still won

New York Times19 hours ago

Spaun surged back after heavy rain delayed play in the final round at Oakmont, 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 shot 40 on the front nine, was 0-for-6 scrambling today and won the U.S. Open at Oakmont.
We saw the convulsing catharsis from Rory McIlroy at the 2025 Masters.
We saw Scottie Scheffler overcome with emotion as he walked to the 18th green at the 2025 PGA Championship.
Now, witness the tears stream down J.J. Spaun's face in his first moments as a major champion.
Fair play, Robert MacIntyre. That's class.
And what a U.S. Open he enjoyed too, by the way.
Incredible moment as NBC cameras capture the moment J.J. Spaun's wife Melody sees him sink the winning putt. She holds one of their two daughters while jumping and smiling in celebration. She then leans down to her other daughter, and though we can't hear what she says, it's easy to read her lips.
"Daddy won!"
Per the PGA Tour, J.J. Spaun becomes the first player since 2003 to shoot in the 40s on the front nine of the final round and go on to win.
He shot nine-hole scores of 40-32 in today's final round of the U.S. Open.
J.J. Spaun probably produced one of the craziest final rounds for a major winner.
He started with bogeys in five of his first six holes. He shot a front nine 40.
Spaun won the U.S. Open, his first major, by TWO strokes, with birdies at the last two holes. Including a 64-foot walk off birdie at the 72nd hole.
Unbelievable. A career moment for the 34-year-old. Getty Images
WOWZA! What a stunning way to win your first major.
Sensational end to an outstanding week for J.J. Spaun.
And having missed out on the Players Championship in a playoff to Rory McIlroy, it's hard not to love this moment for him.
Brilliance at a sodden Oakmont.
J.J. SPAUN! Are you KIDDING ME?
He seals the U.S. Open with a 64-foot birdie on the 72nd hole to capture his first major championship.
From bogeys in five of his first six holes to U.S. Open champion.
What a putt. What a TOURNAMENT.
Both J.J. Spaun and Viktor Hovland find the green but they are very far from the hole.
Hovland is 66 feet away. Spaun 64 feet from the pin.
The Norwegian is going to show the American the line and the speed. All Spaun needs to do is two putt and he wins the U.S. Open.
Here we go! Getty Images
What a horrible day for the two overnight leaders — indeed, the two leaders when we resumed from the eight after the rain delay earlier today.
Both Adam Scott (+5) and Sam Burns (+3) are currently 8-over for their final rounds, with two holes to play.
No one currently inside the top 50 of this U.S. Open has had a worse day, although you could argue that as the final pairing, they have also had the worst of the conditions.
That's a scintillating tee shot from J.J. Spaun. Stripes the middle of the fairway, 308 yards, down the middle.
Viktor Hovland's tee shot just lands in the first cut of right rough.
Spaun needs to par and he wins the U.S. Open. That simple!
I think we're saying goodbye to the overnight leader here. Sam Burns struggles to a bogey on the par-3 16th and it's clear that lack of relief on No. 15 is still weighing heavy.
He slumps to 4-over, three behind the clubhouse leader with two to play.
It's even worse for Adam Scott, who double bogeys the same hole and he's at 5-over.
That's the final pair done, for me. Getty Images
J.J. Spaun is the solo leader at the U.S. Open again. After the tee shot of his life, the American knocks in the three footer for birdie at 17 to improve to even par.
Atop the leaderboard. By himself with one hole to play.
Viktor Hovland is still alive after sinking that birdie just outside of three feet on 17. The Norwegian is two back of Spaun heading to the 72nd hole.
Carlos Ortiz is also eliminated from contention. He came within one stroke of the lead but his double bogey on 15 derailed an otherwise stellar final round.
That's probably it for Tyrell Hatton. His tee shot on 18 lands in the sand trap right of the fairway. He chips out of the trap and now has to hole out from the fairway for a chance to tie for the lead and keep his contention hopes alive. Getty Images
How is Robert MacIntyre feeling right now in the clubhouse? Well, dry for starters. He's just been speaking to Sky Sports:
💬 'I'm absolutely delighted with the way I played. I got off a rough start but I've been working so hard on staying patient, and I got my reward
'I was watching the leaderboard all day and I'm seeing I'm not really going away or someone's not getting away from us, and it was just digging, digging, digging, and took a few chances. Left a few out there.
'But I'm in the clubhouse, so let's just wait and see.'
According to the NBC broadcast, USGA officials have just told clubhouse leader Robert MacIntyre that if there is a playoff, it will take place tomorrow due to more rainfall expected this evening.
J.J. Spaun with the tee shot of his LIFE!
The American fires a 309-yard tee shot on the short par-4 17th to 17 feet from the pin for EAGLE. Absolute mammoth of a drive.
Wowza! Getty Images
Adam Scott drops a shot too at 15, and he's now out to 3-over. The final pair are getting stung by the conditions.
I think I'd like to be Bobby right now…

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