It happened. Finally. After four days of what can only be described as a brutal psychological war at Oakmont Country Club, the 125th U.S. Open found its champion. J.J. Spaun is your newest golf US open winner, and honestly, if you had that on your betting card at the start of the week, you’re probably looking at a very nice vacation right now.
Golf is weird. One year you have Bryson DeChambeau blasting drives into another zip code at Pinehurst, and the next, you have a grinder like Spaun navigating the "Church Pews" bunkers with the precision of a surgeon. He didn't just win; he survived. Oakmont has this nasty habit of making the best players in the world look like weekend hackers, but Spaun finished at 1-under par (279) to take home the trophy and a cool $4,300,000.
The Sunday Drama: Why This Golf US Open Winner Stayed Cool
Most people expected Scottie Scheffler to run away with it. He’s the world number one, he’s got the Olympic gold, and he was lurking just a few shots back going into the weekend. But Oakmont doesn't care about your resume.
Scheffler struggled. He ended up in a three-way tie for seventh, five shots off the lead. While the heavyweights were faltering, Spaun just kept hitting fairways. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn't the kind of golf that makes for a three-minute highlight reel of 350-yard drives. It was better. It was disciplined.
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Robert MacIntyre put up a hell of a fight, finishing just two strokes back. For a while there on the back nine, it looked like the Scotsman might actually pull it off. But Spaun’s par save on the 17th? That was the dagger. You could see the air go out of the field right then.
Breaking Down the Scorecard
Spaun's journey to becoming the golf US open winner started with a 66 in the first round. That’s usually the kiss of death at a major—going low early often leads to a Saturday collapse. Not this time.
- Round 1: 66 (Setting the pace early)
- Final Total: 279 (-1)
- Margin: 2 strokes over Robert MacIntyre
- Field Average: Way over par (Oakmont was a beast)
What Most People Get Wrong About Winning a U.S. Open
There’s this common misconception that the U.S. Open is about "birdie hunting." It’s not. It’s about who makes the fewest double-bogeys. Viktor Hovland, who finished third, basically proved that. He had stretches of brilliance, but those tiny mistakes at a USGA-style setup compound until you’re suddenly four-over for the day.
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Spaun understood the assignment. He played "boring" golf. He aimed for the middle of the greens, accepted his two-putts, and moved on. Honestly, in an era where everyone is obsessed with ball speed and "strokes gained off the tee," seeing a win built on course management is kinda refreshing.
The LIV Factor and the Leaderboard
Let's address the elephant in the room: the LIV Golf vs. PGA Tour divide. While the 2024 winner, Bryson DeChambeau, was a flag-bearer for LIV, 2025 felt like a return to the "traditionalist" climb. Spaun is a PGA Tour veteran who has paid his dues.
We’re also seeing a massive shift in the landscape for 2026. With Brooks Koepka officially returning to the PGA Tour as of January 29th at Torrey Pines, and rumors swirling about others, the competitive fire is only getting hotter. But for now, Spaun sits at the top of that mountain.
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Practical Lessons from the 125th U.S. Open
You might not be playing for a $4 million check, but the way Spaun won offers some genuine insights for your own game.
- The "Safe" Shot is Often the Winning Shot: Spaun rarely attacked tucked pins. He stayed away from the trouble and let the course beat everyone else.
- Short Game Wins Majors: Look at his scrambling stats. When he missed a green, he almost always got up and down. That's the difference between a 70 and a 75.
- Mental Stamina: Oakmont is exhausting. You’ve got to be okay with making a bogey and not letting it turn into a "blow-up" hole.
To truly appreciate what J.J. Spaun accomplished, you have to look at the list of past winners at Oakmont. We’re talking Dustin Johnson, Ernie Els, and Jack Nicklaus. Joining that group isn't just a career milestone; it’s an entry into the history books.
If you're looking to improve your own consistency, start by tracking your "unforced errors" during your next round. Minimize the penalties and the three-putts. It won't make you a golf US open winner overnight, but it'll definitely shave five strokes off your handicap.
For those tracking the 2026 season, keep an eye on the February 2nd deadline for other LIV players to decide on their return to the PGA Tour. That's going to shift the odds for the next major significantly.