J.J. Spaun clinched a remarkable and unexpected U.S. Open Championship at a rain-affected Oakmont Country Club on Sunday. This monumental win marks the first major title of his career.
Despite starting the final round at -1, Spaun faced a difficult start, bogeying five of his initial six holes. However, he displayed impressive resilience, recovering strongly with three birdies and only one additional bogey over the remaining holes. At 34 years old, he becomes the fifth-oldest player in history to win a major championship without a prior top-20 finish in any major, according to ESPN Research.
The tension rose after Robert MacIntyre finished his round at 1 over par, creating a four-way tie for the lead among the players still on the course. Spaun responded brilliantly under pressure, sinking a birdie on the 17th hole to take the solo lead. He then sealed his memorable victory with another crucial birdie on the 18th hole. This makes him just the fifth player in the last century to win the U.S. Open having never previously made the cut in the tournament.
The decisive shot came on the 72nd hole: Spaun sank an incredible 64-foot, 5-inch birdie putt to secure the championship. Notably, this was the longest successful putt made by any player throughout the entire tournament week, highlighting the dramatic nature of his win.
Here are some key moments from the thrilling final round of the 2025 U.S. Open.