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Al Arabiya
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
US Open champion JJ Spaun tries to clear his head and get back to work at Travelers
This isn't the first time J.J. Spaun has come to the Travelers Championship after a life-changing moment. Two years ago, his daughter Violet was born on a Monday, and he didn't show up to the TPC River Highlands until the night before the opening round. He might be even more wiped out now. That's what winning a US Open can do. 'Violet's birthday is Thursday,' Spaun said while reminiscing. But then he stopped, and his eyes widened slightly. 'Tomorrow. I don't even know what day it is. It's been quite the whirlwind,' and the US Open champion wouldn't trade it. The Los Angeles Dodgers – the team script is on his yardage book – are trying to arrange for him to throw out the first pitch. Shortstop Mookie Betts, who played the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with Spaun a few years back, congratulated him. Text messages came in from US Open champions Curtis Strange and Hale Irwin. Spaun slept three hours early Monday before it was off to New York, where he had a full day of media on Tuesday and then was driven to the TPC River Highlands. He slept eight hours, about as much as the previous two nights combined. 'It's been pretty hectic, but also very fun,' Spaun said Wednesday. 'It's been nice to be given the opportunity to express my feelings, my emotions. A lot of people want to hear from me. I was really grateful to have the opportunity to tell everyone about it. So I enjoyed it. And now it's back to work,' which should be a fun time for the 72-man field, at least those who had to slog through five-and-a-half-inch rough soaked by rain at Oakmont for a grueling week. The Travelers Championship, the last of the $20 million signature events, is a happier occasion, where the scoring is easier, even though the TPC River Highlands can still punish bad shots. The rough is still plenty thick, just not quite as dense as it was at Oakmont. And players are not hitting into putting surfaces where the golf ball never seems to stop rolling. Still, it's a welcome relief. 'It's more just kind of getting back into the swing of things of 'All right, actually I have a 7-iron in my hand, but I don't have to be quite as careful,' I guess,' Jordan Spieth said. 'It's no gimme golf course, especially if we're going to see windy conditions.' 'The short answer is yeah, it's kind of nice,' he said. 'It would be hard to play something like that (Oakmont) every single week. But at the same time you get a lot of risk-reward on the back nine here, which can yield three-, four-, five-under rounds, but you can also get in big-time trouble.' For Spaun, it's moving forward just four days after his dynamic finish. He was in a five-way tie for the lead on the back nine and pulled ahead with a driver onto the 17th green for a two-putt birdie and a 65-foot birdie putt for a magical finish in his two-shot victory. 'I definitely need to keep the hunger there,' Spaun said. 'I think I will have the hunger just because I want to continue to prove myself, but not prove myself to anybody other than myself. I feel like my biggest barrier throughout my entire career is just trying not to be so hard on myself and not ruining any sort of confidence that I've built from all these experiences on my journey as a golfer.' 'As long as I keep that up, I think I'll continue to play well,' he said. 'And obviously winning the US Open is going to be a huge boost to that inner ego, I guess you could say, to keep that self-belief alive and burning.' Scottie Scheffler had no trouble last year when he went from winning the Masters to winning the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town. Rory McIlroy won the British Open in 2014, had two weeks off, and then won a World Golf Championship at Firestone and a PGA Championship in consecutive weeks. 'I think after winning a major championship, like the first time you come back out to the course is a bit of a circus sometimes, just with all the people,' Scheffler said. 'J.J. just achieved a lifetime goal and dream of his. It's definitely different coming to the golf course, for sure. There's a lot more people, a lot more stuff to sign, a lot of stuff that goes on. It's all good things. It's all stuff that's fun.' Keegan Bradley won his first major in 2011 as a PGA Tour rookie, had a week off, and then missed the cut in his next two tournaments. 'I remember coming home and going out to dinner with my friends and walking into the restaurant. I could feel that people knew who I was. I had never felt that,' Bradley said. 'The thing I told J.J. was I hope he really enjoys this.'
Associated Press
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
US Open champion JJ Spaun tries to clear his head and get back to work at Travelers
CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — This isn't the first time J.J. Spaun has come to the Travelers Championship after a life-changing moment. Two years ago, his daughter Violet was born on a Monday and he didn't show up to the TPC River Highlands until the night before the opening round. He might be even more wiped now. That's what winning a U.S. Open can do. 'Violet's birthday is Thursday,' Spaun said while reminiscing. But then he stopped and his eyes widened slightly. 'Tomorrow. I don't even know what day it is.' It's been quite the whirlwind, and the U.S. Open champion wouldn't trade it. The Los Angeles Dodgers — the team script is on his yardage book — are trying to arrange for him to throw out the first pitch. Shortstop Mookie Betts, who played the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with Spaun a few years back, congratulated him. Text messages came in from U.S. Open champions Curtis Strange and Hale Irwin. Spaun slept three hours early Monday before it was off to New York, where he had a full day of media on Tuesday and then was driven to the TPC River Highlands. He slept eight hours, about as much as the previous two nights combined. 'It's been pretty hectic but also very fun,' Spaun said Wednesday. 'It's been nice to be given the opportunity to express my feelings, my emotions. A lot of people want to hear from me. I was really grateful to have the opportunity to tell everyone about it. So I enjoyed it.' And now it's back to work, which should be a fun time for the 72-man field, at least those who had to slog through 5 1/2-inch rough soaked by rain at Oakmont for a grueling week. The Travelers Championship, the last of the $20 million signature events, is a happier occasion where the scoring is easier, even though the TPC River Highlands can still punish bad shots. The rough is still plenty thick, just not quite as dense as it was at Oakmont. And players are not hitting into putting surfaces where the golf ball never seems to stop rolling. Still, it's a welcome relief. 'It's more just kind of getting back into the swing of things of, 'All right, actually I have a 7-iron in my hand, but I don't have to be quite as careful,' I guess,' Jordan Spieth said. 'It's no gimme golf course, especially if we're going to see windy conditions. 'The short answer is, yeah, it's kind of nice,' he said. 'It would be hard to play something like that (Oakmont) every single week. But at the same time, you get a lot of risk-reward on the back nine here, which can yield 3-, 4-, 5 under rounds, but you can also get in big-time trouble.' For Spaun, it's moving forward just four days after his dynamic finish. He was in a five-way tie for the lead on the back nine and pulled ahead with a driver onto the 17th green for a two-putt birdie and a 65-foot birdie putt for a magical finish in his two-shot victory. 'I definitely need to keep the hunger there,' Spaun said. 'I think I will have the hunger just because I want to continue to prove myself, but not prove myself to anybody other than myself. I feel like my biggest barrier throughout my entire career is just trying not to be so hard on myself and not ruining any sort of confidence that I've built from all these experiences on my journey as a golfer. 'As long as I keep that up, I think I'll continue to play well,' he said. 'And obviously winning the U.S. Open is going to be a huge boost to that inner ego, I guess you could say, to keep that self-belief alive and burning.' Scottie Scheffler had no trouble last year when he went from winning the Masters to winning the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town. Rory McIlroy won the British Open in 2014, had two weeks off and then won a World Golf Championship at Firestone and a PGA Championship in consecutive weeks. 'I think after winning a major championship, like the first time you come back out to the course is a bit of a circus sometimes just with all the people,' Scheffler said. 'J.J. just achieved a lifetime goal and dream of his. It's definitely different coming to the golf course, for sure. There's a lot more people, a lot more stuff to sign, a lot of stuff that goes on. 'It's all good things. It's all stuff that's fun.' Keegan Bradley won his first major in 2011 as a PGA Tour rookie, had a week off and then missed the cut in his next two tournaments. 'I remember coming home and going out to dinner with my friends and walking into the restaurant. I could feel that people knew who I was. I had never felt that,' Bradley said. 'The thing I told J.J. was I hope he really enjoys this.' ___ AP golf:
Reuters
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Reuters
U.S. Open champ J.J. Spaun carries momentum to Connecticut
June 18 - J.J. Spaun's news conference Wednesday ahead of the Travelers Championship might have been the longest he has sat still since winning the U.S. Open on Sunday. "It's been pretty hectic but also very fun," said Spaun, whose dramatic birdie-birdie finish at Oakmont Country Club gave him a two-stroke win over Scotland's Robert MacIntyre and his first major championship. "It's been nice to be given the opportunity to express my feelings, my emotions. A lot of people want to hear from me. I was really grateful to have the opportunity to tell everyone about it," he said. "So I enjoyed it. It was a fun time." Spaun celebrated with a stopover Monday night in New York City, where he had dinner with his family, but said he didn't get to catch up on his sleep until Tuesday night. He received congratulations from several celebrities, including actor and comedian George Lopez and Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts, and from golfing greats Curtis Strange and Hale Irwin. Spaun, 34, said he was looking forward to carrying his momentum into the PGA Tour season's final signature event, which starts on Thursday in Cromwell, Conn. "Super excited," he said. "I didn't get to play here last year. I love the area. I love the course. Such a great course that they have here at TPC River Highlands. Looks like we're going to have some pretty good weather too, so that's nice. Just excited to get the week going." Spaun, who missed the cut the last two times he was at the Travelers in 2022 and 2023, said he's still getting used to the idea of being a major champion. "I still haven't really been able to enjoy it and not have any responsibilities," he said. "It would be nice to just sit on my couch at home and have the trophy sitting right next to me and watch some 'SportsCenter' or something, but that's kind of how I like to enjoy things, just kind of vegging out, especially after long weeks on the road and big tournaments." Spaun said he wants to savor his breakthrough win without becoming complacent. "I definitely need to keep the hunger there. I think I will have the hunger just because I want to continue to prove myself, but not prove myself to anybody other than myself, I feel like, and that's kind of been my biggest barrier throughout my entire career is just trying not to be so hard on myself and not ruining any sort of confidence that I've built from all these experiences on my journey as a golfer," he said. "As long as I keep that up, I think I'll continue to play well, and obviously winning the U.S. Open is going to be a huge boost to that sort of inner ego, I guess you could say, to keep that self-belief alive and burning." --Field Level Media
USA Today
03-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
40 days until the Masters: Looking back at the 1985 Masters, third international winner
40 days until the Masters: Looking back at the 1985 Masters, third international winner The 2025 Masters is here in just 40 days. As the countdown to heading down Magnolia Lane continues, Golfweek is taking a look back at some Masters history through the years. Today, it's time to examine the 1985 Masters and the significant milestones that occurred at Augusta National Golf Club that year. More: 41 days until the Masters: Looking back at the 1984 Masters, Crenshaw's first win Who won the 1985 Masters? Bernhard Langer became the third international winner of the Masters, coming from behind in the final round to win. Curtis Strange, who shot 80 in the opening round, led by three shots with six holes to play but bogeyed three holes coming in, including both par 5s, to finish tied for second. Langer didn't lead after any of the first three rounds but closed in 68. 1985 Masters leaderboard 1) Bernhard Langer; 6-under 282 T2) Seve Ballesteros, Raymond Floyd, Curtis Strange; 4-under 284 5) Jay Haas; 3-under 285 1985 Masters purse, prize money Langer won $126,000, and the total purse was $700,793. Who was low amateur at the 1985 Masters? Sam W. Randolph was the low amateur after finishing at 2-over 290, which was tied for 18th. Augusta National course changes in 1985 There were no course changes that year. Who won the 1985 Masters Par 3 Contest? Hubert Green won his only Par 3 Contest, shooting 5-under 22. 1985 Masters facts, stats
USA Today
15-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Two-time U.S. Open champ Curtis Strange remembers the 1-iron that got him out of debt
AI-assisted summary Curtis Strange found himself $10,000 in debt after his time at Wake Forest. During the final round of the Australian Open, Strange trailed Jack Nicklaus but was in contention for second place and a $22,000 prize. Strange hit a clutch 1-iron shot onto the green on the final hole, securing his second-place finish and pulling him out of debt. Strange would go on to have a successful PGA Tour career, winning two U.S. Opens and being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. NAPLES, Fla. — In an age when hybrids have changed the way many players traverse the golf course, the thought of a perfectly struck 1-iron hearkens back to a bygone era. For Curtis Strange, the difficult-to-hit club proved to be the one that got him out of debt. Before the PGA Tour Champions Chubb Classic, Strange was part of a Golfweek event at TwinEagles Golf Club, where he reminisced about a shot that had a tremendous impact on his life when he was still making the transition from a prolific amateur career to becoming a pro player. Strange amassed about $10,000 in debt playing amateur events after wrapping up his time at Wake Forest. His need to become financially stable was amplified when he married Sarah, who is still by his side. After a sterling collegiate career in which he never finished out of the top 10 in 25 tournaments, Strange was betting he could make it on the PGA Tour, but he had yet to earn his card and went Down Under for what he hoped might prove to be a lucrative journey. During the final round at the Australian Club outside Sydney, he trailed Jack Nicklaus by a number of strokes but was in contention for a solo second-place finish and the position's $22,000 winnings. Nicklaus, who won the Aussie Open six times during his career, collected $32,000 for a four-stroke victory. Strange knew a few good shots on the final hole could pull him from the red into the black. "When I came to the last hole I knew that to beat the other guy for second all by myself, I needed to make par," Strange said. "It was a tough par-4 with a wind blowing, a little from the left and some in my face. I drove the ball well. I knew all I needed to do was hit the green and two-putt." That's when Strange pulled out his trusty 1-iron. "I hit that thing right on the button," he said. "I dropped it right in the middle of the green, two-putted for par and took $22,000 home. There are some shots you just absolutely remember during your lifetime and that was one of them." Strange, of course, would go on to win two U.S. Opens in 1988 and 1989 and has collected 17 PGA Tour titles along the way. He was the Tour's money leader thrice and was a World Golf Hall of Fame Inductee in 2007. How did the runner-up finish at the Australian Open rank in terms of significance? "That was the most important tournament of my life," he said.
