06/16/2025
JJ Spaun wins 125th US Open
I was more than intrigued about this US Open for a few reasons. One it was in my state of PA and secondly, hear the pros talk, it was going to be one of the hardest courses they will ever play, some saying it may even be won over par. Naturally I had to make time to watch some of this unfold.
If you know anything about the US Open, you know that it always plays tough. The USGA makes the rough at these courses like hitting out of an alfalfa field. It is a much better product than seeing the pros win the Jack Links Pro Am at 35 under. Coming into the week, you had the usual suspects favored. Morikawa, Thomas, Rahm, and naturally Scottie Scheffler. Myself and my buddy may also had a few bucks on Lowry, Xander and Rose. That worked out like most of my relationships.
Spaun led this thing after day one but fell after that, but remained in striking distance. Then in the last round, the native Californian found himself on the front nine getting some horrible breaks. On the short par 4 he fired his second shot towards the pin, only to hit the flag and bounce back some 50 feet off the green. He preceded to post 5 bogeys on the front, making him a longshot on the back 9. Then, it all changed.
Spaun, a type 1 diabetic, was asked in an interview about his perseverance and he mentioned that on a plane ride back from a tournament he was watching a movie about a tennis player about ready to give up, only to push through and win Wimbledon. So he decided to continue chasing his dreams. At one point Sunday, there was a 5 way tie all at 1 over. After a hour and a half rain delay, Spaun said he took that time to regroup, and have conversation with his coaches. Upon restarting, Oakmont started tearing up some of the other golfers. The rough and now the soaked course, ate up some of the best in the world. Then on 17, a short par 4, Spaun drove the green and ran his ball over the hole to within 12 feet, making a bird to put him at even and in sole possession of the lead. On 18, his playing partner, Victor Hovland, both hit their second shots within 62 feet, Hovland was out. Hovland showed Spaun the line, and on his third stoke, Spaun sunk his 62.5 footer for bird to go to minus one, and win the US Open.
Coming off the 18th, he was met by his family, including his two young daughters. Fitting it is Fathers Day. Fitting that once again, we are shown the ability of the mind and the body when adversity wants to win. Fitting that once again we are shown, that giving up should never be an option.
Congrats JJ Spaun!
-Matthew Grimm
