J.J. Spaun etched his name into golf history with a stunning victory at the 2025 U.S. Open, held at the notoriously challenging Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. Overcoming a chaotic final day marked by heavy rain, a lengthy weather delay, and a fierce leaderboard battle, Spaun secured his first major championship with a remarkable 64-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, finishing the tournament at one under par and two shots clear of Scotland's Robert MacIntyre.
The final round on Sunday, June 15, 2025, was a rollercoaster for Spaun. The Californian started the day just one shot behind overnight leader Sam Burns, but a nightmare front nine saw him bogey five of his first six holes. His approach shot on the second hole struck the flagstick and rolled 50 yards away, and a bizarre bounce off a rake on the fourth contributed to his early struggles. At one point, it appeared his chances were slipping away as he fell five shots behind Burns.
However, the weather intervened. Torrential rain forced a 96-minute delay in play, flooding greens and fairways and halting the action just after 4 p.m. local time. When play resumed, Spaun found renewed focus. He posted two long-range birdies from 40 and 22 feet on the back nine, lifting him into contention. A bogey at the 15th was quickly erased by a stunning tee shot on the drivable par-four 17th, which settled just 17 feet from the cup, setting up a two-putt birdie that gave him a one-shot lead heading to the final hole.
Needing only a par to avoid a Monday playoff, Spaun instead holed an extraordinary 64-foot birdie putt on the soggy 18th green, sending the crowd into a frenzy and sparking wild celebrations. Spaun's emotions poured out as he tossed his putter, delivered a fist pump, embraced his caddie Mark Carens, and walked off the green with his two young daughters on Father's Day. "Just to finish it off like that is just a dream," Spaun said after the win. "To have my own moment like that at this championship, I'll never forget this moment for the rest of my life." He added, "It was so cool to just have my whole family there on Father's Day. It's just incredible. I have no words to describe the moment and them being able to see me as the winner."
Spaun's victory was historic in several respects. He was the only player to finish under par for the tournament, the first to do so at Oakmont in recent memory, and recorded six bogeys in his final round—the most by a U.S. Open winner since Hale Irwin in 1979. Remarkably, he became the first player to shoot a 40 on any nine holes of a major and go on to win since Ernie Els at The Open in 2002. This major breakthrough marks Spaun's first PGA Tour win since the 2022 Valero Texas Open and will propel him into the world's top 10 rankings, boosting his Ryder Cup qualification hopes.
Robert MacIntyre, the 28-year-old Scotsman from Oban, finished runner-up with a resilient two-under 68 in the final round, setting the clubhouse target at one over par before Spaun's heroics. MacIntyre began the day seven shots off the lead and showed remarkable grit, making a 60-foot eagle putt at the fourth hole and birdies at the ninth, 14th, and 17th. Despite bogeys early on, he climbed the leaderboard and was a worthy challenger, applauding Spaun's winning putt with a heartfelt "wow".
Other notable performances included Norway's Viktor Hovland, who finished third at three over par after a solid 73. England's Tyrrell Hatton, a LIV Golf player, shared fourth place with Cameron Young and Carlos Ortiz, though Hatton lamented a bogey-bogey finish that dashed his major contention hopes. Hatton reflected, "What happened on 17 is going to hurt a lot for a long time. It was the first time I've been in contention in a major, and that was exciting. Unfortunately, I feel like through a bit of bad luck I had momentum taken away from me and it ultimately ended up not being my day."
Sam Burns, who led after rounds two and three, faltered on the rain-soaked course, shooting a final-round 78 to finish tied for seventh alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm. Rahm, a two-time major champion, closed with a three-under 67, the joint-lowest round of the day, while Scheffler also posted a 70. Rory McIlroy, who defeated Spaun in a playoff at The Players Championship earlier in March, carded a 67 to finish tied 19th at seven over par. McIlroy spoke about needing to reset before the upcoming British Open at Royal Portrush, saying, "I just need to get myself in the right frame of mind. I probably haven't been there the last few weeks, but as I said, getting home and having a couple of weeks off before that, hopefully feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, will get me in the right place again."
The 2025 U.S. Open was notable for its challenging conditions, with heavy rains causing delays and making Oakmont's notoriously tough course even more demanding. The weather delay shifted the momentum of the day, as Spaun himself acknowledged: "The weather delay changed the whole vibe for the day. A similar thing happened to me at the Players and I kind of leaned on that whole experience."
Prize money for the event totaled $21.5 million, the highest among the four major golf championships. Spaun earned a winner's check of $4.3 million, while MacIntyre took home $2.32 million for second place. The tournament was broadcast live on NBC and USA Network, with streaming available on Peacock, the USGA app, and Fubo, ensuring fans worldwide could follow every moment of the gripping final round.
The victory at Oakmont marks a defining moment in J.J. Spaun's career, transforming him from a talented contender into a major champion. His resilience through adversity, clutch putting under immense pressure, and ability to navigate one of golf's toughest courses on a rain-soaked day will be remembered as one of the great U.S. Open triumphs. With the British Open looming next month at Royal Portrush, the golf world will be watching to see if Spaun can build on this breakthrough and continue his rise among the sport's elite.
