J.J. Spaun drains 64‑foot birdie putt to win the U.S. Open ? – NBC Sports highlight
J.J. Spaun captured his first major title at Oakmont Country Club yesterday in a truly unforgettable fashion. The Californian, 34, trailed by five strokes after a disastrous start in the final round—bogeying five of the first six holes and signing for a 40 over his front nine—the worst front nine ever by a U.S. Open champion since 1913 golfmonthly.com+15wsj.com+15cbssports.com+15. Then came a 96-minute rain delay that reset the mood and revitalized Spaun’s resolve
Post-delay, Spaun was flawless. He drilled a 40-foot birdie putt on the 12th and added clutch birdies on 14 and 17 to take the lead en.wikipedia.org. And on the par‑4 18th, from a mind‑boggling 64‑48 foot (approximately 65‑foot) distance—the longest made putt of the week—he rolled in the winning birdie, finishing at 1‑under par and two strokes ahead of Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre
Spaun’s reaction—tossing his putter, pumping his fists, celebrating with caddie Mark Carens, then embracing his wife and daughters—was the image of triumph born from adversity wsj.com+6espn.com+6nbcsports.com+6. He said he avoided looking at the leaderboard on 18 to stay aggressive, relying on the crowd’s energy to sense victory .
This most remarkable Sunday saw him become the only player to finish under par (+1‑over 72 on final day) amid brutal weather and relentlessly tough conditions
It's a storybook ending at Oakmont—Spaun, who once considered quitting the sport, now stands as U.S. Open champion, his name etched alongside golf legends espn.com+15talksport.com+15usopen.com+15.
The win earns him the $4.3 million champion’s check, a five‑year PGA Tour exemption, Ryder Cup entry, and instant legend status cbssports.com.
? Key Takeaways:
Post-delay, Spaun was flawless. He drilled a 40-foot birdie putt on the 12th and added clutch birdies on 14 and 17 to take the lead en.wikipedia.org. And on the par‑4 18th, from a mind‑boggling 64‑48 foot (approximately 65‑foot) distance—the longest made putt of the week—he rolled in the winning birdie, finishing at 1‑under par and two strokes ahead of Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre
Spaun’s reaction—tossing his putter, pumping his fists, celebrating with caddie Mark Carens, then embracing his wife and daughters—was the image of triumph born from adversity wsj.com+6espn.com+6nbcsports.com+6. He said he avoided looking at the leaderboard on 18 to stay aggressive, relying on the crowd’s energy to sense victory .
This most remarkable Sunday saw him become the only player to finish under par (+1‑over 72 on final day) amid brutal weather and relentlessly tough conditions
It's a storybook ending at Oakmont—Spaun, who once considered quitting the sport, now stands as U.S. Open champion, his name etched alongside golf legends espn.com+15talksport.com+15usopen.com+15.
The win earns him the $4.3 million champion’s check, a five‑year PGA Tour exemption, Ryder Cup entry, and instant legend status cbssports.com.
? Key Takeaways:
- Historic comeback: 40 on front nine → 64‑foot walk‑off birdie on final hole
- Mental resilience: Weather delay acted as a reset, Spaun seized the momentum
- Championship credentials: First U.S. Open win, second career PGA title
- Oakmont legacy: Only player under par in record‑tough conditions