J.J. Spaun has won a remarkable 2025 US Open, after shooting five over par 40 on the first nine to seemingly put himself out of contention.
Starting the final round T2 with Australia’s Adam Scott on -3, the pair were chasing down 3rd round sole leader Sam Burns (-4). In torrid conditions which halted play for a period during the final round, players were struggling on the brutal Oakmont Country Club course. Players began to stumble and at the turn it looked like the winner would come from the final pairing of Scott and Burns, despite both of them shooting 3 over on the front nine.
After grabbing sole lead on +2 with birdie on the 10th, Burns had a double bogey then bogey. Scott had a bogey on 11 but the pair still headed the field until things unravelled. Scottie bogeyed 14, 15 and double bogeyed 16 – his run was over. Burns appeared to steady then he double bogeyed 15 and bogeyed 16 – his chances were over.
An even par finish became a winning score and even Clubhouse finishers over par looked a threat as the final groupings came in. Robert MacIntyre was one of those on +1 after his final round 68. Only Jon Rahm (T7 +4) and Rory McIlroy (T19 +7) could shoot lower for the day (67).
For moments Cameron Young, Tyrell Hatton and Carlos Ortiz all looked a chance – they eventually shared T4 (+3). Viktor Hovland, paired with J.J. Spaun were the penultimate group, and as they stood on 17 they knew MacIntyre was in the club house on +1. Viktor needed two birdies to match MacIntyre but J.J. Spaun was level at +1 after brilliant birdies on 12 and 14.
The rest is they say is history, J.J. Spaun birdied 17 to take the lead on even par on his own and then made the green in regulation on 18 – two putts and the tournament was his. He only needed one putt, sinking the longest putt of the week to secure his first major and he was also the first U.S. Open winner since Jon Rahm (2021) to birdie the 72nd hole.
It was dramatic stuff and although it was sad to see evergreen Adam Scott slip away at the end, you couldn’t help but be caught by the drama and emotional victory of J.J. Spaun.
The 34-year-old J.J. Spaun earned his first major title with his previous best finish T23/2022 Masters Tournament. It was his second win on TOUR in his 236th start (2022 Valero Texas Open). He becomes the first player on TOUR since 2003 to shoot in the 40s on the front nine of the final round and go on to win; carded nine-hole scores of 40-32 in the final round and he was 0-for-6 scrambling in the final round.
Spaun moves up to No. 7 in the Official World Golf Ranking and to No. 6 in the FedExCup standings.
ADDITIONAL TOURNAMENT NOTES
Looking to match the largest final-round comeback in U.S. Open history (seven strokes), Robert MacIntyre (2nd/+1) closes with 2-under 68; earns his best finish in a major (previous: T6/2019 Open Championship). He made the lone eagle of the day by any player in the field (No. 4)
Looking to become the first major winner from Norway, Viktor Hovland (3rd/+2) shoots 3-over 73; earns his second top-10 of the 2025 season (Won/Valspar Championship); earns his first top-10 in a U.S. Open in his seventh appearance (previous best finish: T12/2019)
36- and 54-hole leader Sam Burns (T7/+4) cards 8-over 78; falls to 1-for-5 when leading/co-leading entering the final round on TOUR; earns his best finish in a major (previous: T9/2024 U.S. Open)
World No. 1 and FedExCup leader Scottie Scheffler (T7/+4) closes with even-par 70; earns his fourth top-10 in his last five starts at the U.S. Open (T7/2021; T2/2022; 3rd/2023; T7/2025); earns his eighth consecutive top-10 finish of the season on TOUR, including three wins during that span
Looking to become the second-oldest winner in U.S. Open history, 44-year-old Adam Scott (T12/+6) posts 9-over 79; made his 96th consecutive major appearance, dating back to the 2001 Open Championship; longest active streak and second-longest streak all-time (Jack Nicklaus/146)
Xander Schauffele (T12/+6) finishes in the top 15 at the U.S. Open for the ninth consecutive time dating back to his debut in 2017 (T5/2017; T6/2018; T3/2019; 5th/2020; T7/2021; T14/2022; T10/2023; T7/2024; T12/2025)
2011 U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy (T19/+7) matches the low round of the day (67); earns his seventh consecutive top-25 finish at the U.S. Open (T9/2019; T8/2020; T7/2021; T5/2022; 2nd/2023; 2nd/2024; T19/2025)
Corey Conners withdrew before the start of the final round.
Image - PGA Tour website