J.J. Spaun was standing there. His dream was standing 64 feet and 5 inches away. 9 holes ago, it appeared to be a passing fantasy, and 12 months ago, he thought that it might never come true.
From a similar location 3 months prior, Spaun saw his ball stop eerily short, wasting an opportunity to change the course of his career with a victory at THE PLAYERS Championship.
This time, Spaun watched his ball track toward the cup and drop on a site that has witnessed some of the most memorable moments in golf history.
This was how it had to finish. An unanticipated, “what the hell did we just witness” win on a day when such feelings were only associated with tragedies. It was a day that put the men’s fortitude to the test more than their expertise. where character strength triumphed over skill. It was a place where making the final putt required more willpower than anything else. Spaun’s journey to the 18th green at Oakmont Country Club, where he made a 64-foot, 5-inch putt to win the U.S. Open, is maybe best described by nothing.
The 34-year-old Spaun didn’t think this was feasible. He didn’t think he was good enough until recently. Therefore, if you had the same notion, you’re forgiven.
“I had no idea how talented I could be.” Spaun said.
He’s aware now. Everyone is aware. Sufficient to win a major championship.
Following a front-nine of 40, Spaun came back with a valiant back-nine of 32 to win his first major championship in a war of attrition at Oakmont. At the 18th green, he needed just one putt to win, but he could have won with two. After 72 perilous holes, Spaun finished 1 under, the only player below par. At 1 over, Robert MacIntyre came in second.
Spaun is a throwback in a time when the greatest players in the sport—Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, John Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Justin Thomas, to mention a few ; have dominated major championships. A sum-of-their-parts underdog who unexpectedly made history by catching fire and believing in the perfect moment. He isn’t the most significant figure in history or the sexiest name that could have won. However, his victory proved this U.S. Open to be what it truly is ; a test of willpower.
Sam Burns was shot back by Spaun on the first day, but an hour later, what had appeared to be a great opportunity had become a nightmare. Any chance of a par was dashed when Spaun bogeyed the first hole, missing the fairway well right. With a 94-yard throw up the hill at the second hole, he put himself in the perfect position in the center of the fairway. His shot, however, was too accurate; it bounded back off the green, clanked on the flagstick, and skipped just in front of the hole. It turned into a demoralizing bogey instead of a tap-in birdie. This was followed by another bogey at the third, fifth, and sixth holes. As a torrent of rain pounded the seventh and eighth holes, Spaun stumbled to two pars, which resulted in the afternoon’s most significant development: a rain delay.
Josh Gregory, Spaun’s short game coach, came over there and gave the necessary instruction. Gregory advised him to put the past behind him and rise to the challenge, saying he would have killed to be here four days ago.
“Father’s Day has arrived, and everything is great. You have a chance to win the U.S. Open, and you have two gorgeous infants.” Gregory said.
Adam Schriber, his full-swing coach, then added his voice and gave him a motivational speech that almost amounted to a reprimand.
“No regrets,” he told Spaun.
He could lose. He was probably going to, in fact. But with nothing held back, he was going to lose.
For the longest time, Spaun didn’t want the ball, so this is a relatively new approach. He deliberately stayed away from it. He talked about the debilitating “crawl-into-a-hole-and-die” shame that seized him whenever he was in contention at THE PLAYERS. He lost by a score of 8-over-78 at the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship because of it. And every time he even sniffed the outside of contention, it left him incapacitated.
More scar tissue was left behind than he wanted to acknowledge. Spaun thought about giving up the game even after winning the 2022 Valero Texas Open, a PGA TOUR event. He asked Ryan Donovan, the head coach of San Diego State, if he knew of any reputable golf clubs in need of a golf pro. He realized that his tenure on the PGA TOUR might be coming to an end late in the 2024 season when he finished outside of the top 125.
“I was just afraid of feeling embarrassed,” Spaun said Saturday at TPC Sawgrass.
The following day, the most bizarre thing occurred. It might have been the most humiliating loss he had ever faced. He hit his tee ball into the sea at the famous island par-3 17th hole in a playoff matchup with Rory McIlroy. The one unforgivable error you just cannot make. One that will endure in his mind for a longer period of time than any of ours.
However, there was no shame. He felt more confident.
He thought I might be among the best in the world because of that. This will get him over the hump, and that confirmed it.
After the weather delay, Spaun bravely made his way back to Oakmont with that attitude in tow. He shot at the par-5 12th hole, making a 40-foot birdie to get himself back to 1 over after making pars on Nos. 9–11.
At the 14th hole, Spaun made another birdie, but at the 15th hole, he immediately gave it back with a missed shot. However, Burns and Scott created a mess behind him, but his consistent play was sufficient to keep him moving up the board. He recalled a tale Max Homa had told him about Tiger Woods telling Homa that winning a major doesn’t need you to do anything out of the ordinary. They will come to you if you just wait.
At 1 over on the 17th hole, Spaun unexpectedly found himself in that role as a co-leader. Then came his tournament-winning shot, a 309-yard drive that landed on the drivable par 4 green. After making a two-putt for birdie to grab the lead, he proceeded as he had on the 18th.
“That combines a little bit of greatness and luck. What a unique man.” Gregory said.
Perhaps Spaun will utilize this as a springboard to greater heights. Perhaps he won’t. He is playing the best golf of his life and is in his mid-30s.
In terms of strokes gained, he is among the top 10 thanks to his exceptional approach play, above-average putting, and driving. According to the Official World Golf Ranking, he is now placed eighth. He has a solid chance of making it to the Ryder Cup. As Schriber waited for Spaun to come out, he kept that thought in mind.
“Now is the time to win that Ryder Cup. They stated that they would not select us, that you must place in the top six, and that rookies would not be accepted.” he said.
Spaun’s argument for that team and for having bigger goals is excellent. He wasn’t raised to play golf professionally. He wasn’t a regular on the best junior circuits or sent to the best academies. His debut on the PGA TOUR did not create a stir, nor was he a highly sought-after college athlete.
Although he hasn’t always grown steadily, his perseverance has brought him to this point.
“I’m holding the U.S. Open trophy now.” Spaun said.
