If you had told a golf fan on Sunday morning at Oakmont that a guy who started his final round with five bogeys in six holes would be holding the trophy, they’d have laughed you off the property. It was impossible. The course was a monster. Oakmont doesn't do "comebacks" like that.
But then, J.J. Spaun happened.
Most people looking back at the 2025 U.S. Open will see the name J.J. Spaun and remember the putt—that massive, winding 64-foot bomb on the 18th. It was a walk-off for the ages. However, the real story of the winner of the golf U.S. Open is actually about a mid-afternoon rain delay and a total mental reset that shouldn't have worked, but did.
How J.J. Spaun Stole Oakmont
Spaun didn't just win; he survived. Oakmont is notorious for its brutal greens and "Church Pews" bunkers, but the 2025 setup was particularly nasty. By Sunday afternoon, the leaderboard was a graveyard of major champions.
Sam Burns, the 54-hole leader, and the legendary Adam Scott basically ejected themselves from the planet. Honestly, they combined to go 17 over par on Sunday alone. It was painful to watch. While they were crumbling, Spaun was stuck in a nightmare of his own. He looked done. Toasted.
He started with five straight 5s. That’s five bogeys in six holes to start the final round of a major. You don't recover from that. Usually, you just try to finish inside the top 20 and collect your check. But a 95-minute weather delay changed everything.
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The Conversation That Saved the Tournament
During that rain delay, Spaun sat on the range with his coaches. He was frustrated, obviously. He’d just seen a perfect approach shot on the 2nd hole hit the flagstick and roll all the way off the front of the green. It was a "rub of the green" that felt like a slap in the face.
His coaches gave him a reality check. They basically told him, "Dude, just chill." They pointed out that even with the disaster start, the field was also dying. He was still in it.
Coming out of the break, the course was soaked. It played longer, the greens were a tiny bit softer, and Spaun suddenly found a gear nobody knew he had. He drained a 40-footer on the 12th for birdie. Then a 22-footer on the 14th. Suddenly, he was at the top.
Breaking Down the 64-Foot Walk-Off
The finish was absurd. Robert MacIntyre had already posted a clubhouse lead, and it looked like we were headed for a playoff. Spaun arrived at the par-4 18th knowing a par would force extra holes, but a birdie would win it outright.
The putt was about 64 feet and 5 inches. It wasn't just long; it had a massive break.
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- The Line: He took the read from Viktor Hovland, who was in his pairing.
- The Speed: It was raining again, so the greens had slowed down just enough to be aggressive.
- The Moment: When the ball was about 8 feet out, Spaun started walking it in. He knew.
When it dropped, it wasn't just a win; it was the largest winner’s share in history at $4.3 million. Spaun finished at 1-under par (279 total). In a tournament where "par is a great score," being the only guy under par on a Sunday at Oakmont is legendary.
Common Misconceptions About the 2025 Win
A lot of casual fans think Spaun "lucked into it" because the leaders collapsed. That’s sort of a lazy take. While it’s true that Burns and Scott fell apart, Spaun had to shoot a 72 in those conditions after starting with five bogeys. That takes a specific kind of mental toughness you rarely see outside of guys like Tiger or Brooks Koepka.
Also, people forget how young Robert MacIntyre is in terms of major experience. He nearly stole the show, finishing just two shots back. He played nearly flawless golf while everyone else was hitting it into the fescue.
Key Stats from the Leaderboard
- J.J. Spaun: -1 (Winner)
- Robert MacIntyre: +1
- Viktor Hovland: +2
- Cameron Young: +3
Scottie Scheffler, who everyone expected to dominate, ended up in a tie for 7th. He just couldn't get the putter to cooperate on Oakmont's lightning-fast surfaces. It goes to show that the winner of the golf U.S. Open is often the person who manages frustration the best, not necessarily the person hitting the ball the furthest.
Why This Win Matters for the Future
J.J. Spaun’s victory is a massive deal for the "middle class" of the PGA Tour. He wasn't a superstar. He was a guy who’d won a Valero Texas Open and had some solid finishes, but he wasn't on anyone's "Mount Rushmore" of active players.
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Winning at Oakmont changes your life. It gives you a 10-year exemption into the U.S. Open and 5-year exemptions into the other three majors. For Spaun, who turned pro back in 2012 and spent years grinding on the Mackenzie Tour in Canada, it's the ultimate validation.
If you’re looking to improve your own game based on what happened at Oakmont, focus on the "reset." Spaun’s win wasn't about a swing change mid-round; it was about accepting a bad start and moving on. Most amateurs let one double-bogey ruin their entire Saturday. Spaun let five bogeys happen and still won the biggest trophy in the world.
To really internalize this, try the "Three-Hole Rule" next time you play. No matter what happens in the first three holes, treat the 4th hole like a brand-new tournament. It sounds cheesy, but it’s exactly how a major was won at one of the hardest courses on the planet.
Check the USGA archives or the official PGA Tour results for the full scorecard breakdown. Seeing the 5-5-5-5-5 start next to the "1" on the trophy is the best motivation you’ll ever find.