JJ Spaun recovers from disaster start to win chaotic US Open at Oakmont

JJ Spaun sank a 64-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole of the US Open to clinch his first major championship title to beat Scotland's Robert MacIntyre by two strokes. 

Spaun began the day trailing 54-hole leader Sam Burns by one shot and got off to the worst possible start. 

The 34-year-old, who lost to Rory McIlroy at TPC Sawgrass in March, dropped five strokes in his opening six holes at Oakmont Country Club. 

That included one of the unluckiest breaks imaginable at the second hole where his golf ball hit the pin and rolled back off the green 50 yards. 

After a 96-minute weather delay, the American dug in deep by playing his next 12 holes in 3-under. 

Spaun sealed his first major championship title emphatically, holing a 64-foot putt for birdie on the final hole to send the crowd into a frenzy. 

The final round of 2-over 72 meant Spaun was the only player to finish in the red numbers on 1-under. 

MacIntyre began his final round with two bogeys in his first three holes but emerged from the rain delay a man possessed intent on sealing his first big win. 

He carded the best round of the day, a 2-under 68, to post the clubhouse lead of 1-over. 

MacIntyre said: "Today was a day that I said to myself, why not? Why not it be me today? 

"When I was going round, and I just trusted myself, trusted my caddie Mike, trusted all the work that I've done."

But it was not to be and he finished runner-up, one stroke clear of his European Ryder Cup teammate with Viktor Hovland. 

Cameron Young and LIV Golf recruits Tyrrell Hatton and Carlos Ortiz shared third. 

The aforementioned Burns carded an 8-over 78 to finish in a tie for seventh. 

Burns' hopes of winning his first major championship were sunk after he appeared to be completely hosed by a ruling on the 15th hole. 

The 28-year-old multiple PGA Tour winner played in the final group alongside former Masters champion Adam Scott.

Scott produced an age-defying performance this week and was attempting to seal his first major title since slipping on the green jacket at Augusta National in 2013. 

The 44-year-old Australian was playing in his 96th consecutive major championship but, like Burns, struggled to deal with the conditions and carded a 9-over 79 to finish in a share for 12th. 

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and two-time major champion Jon Rahm finished in the top-10. 

Masters champion McIlroy had his best round of the 2025 US Open on Sunday, carding a 67, that saw him post a top 20 finish. 

"I never thought I would be here holding this trophy"

JJ Spaun took the aforementioned McIlroy to a playoff at the PGA Tour's flagship event in March. 

He was a matter of inches away from sealing victory over the Ulsterman on the final hole. 

Spaun then came unstuck 24 hours later by sending his ball into the water at the iconic par-3 17th. 

He drew praise for how he handled the defeat, admitting that he had no idea what his glass ceiling was. 

A horror start at Oakmont on Sunday made it appear as though he had blown another glorious chance. 

The beginning of his round was filled with bad breaks. 

His approach on the second hole clattered the flag stick and rolled 50 yards away from the pin, leading to a bogey.

Spaun's golf ball also bounced off a rake on the fourth hole but he managed to make a par. 

After a 96-minute rain delay everyone on the golf course, apart from Spaun and MacIntyre, struggled considerably. 

Spaun did not blink and seized the lead with a monster, 40-foot downhill putt at the 12th. 

He effectively won the title on the drivable par-4 17th, hitting his golf ball to 17 feet. 

A kick-in birdie gave him a cushion, but he sealed the title in dramatic fashion by holing the longest putt of the week.

"I never thought I would be here holding this trophy," he said in the immediate aftermath of victory. 

"I've always had aspirations and dreams but a few months ago I didn't know what my ceiling was and how good I could be."

He added: "I grew up watching golf. I was a young kid, wanted to play golf. I loved golf. It was a passion for me growing up. I always played with my parents growing up.

"One thing led to another. I wasn't really groomed to be a professional golfer. I didn't get put through academies. I didn't play the AJGA. I played local stuff. 

"I did qualify for, actually, my first big USGA event, which was the U.S. Junior. I did that two times when I was like 16 and 17.

"That's kind of when I realized my potential. I just kept going, like one foot in front of the other. Junior golf, college golf, turning pro, and now here I am with the US Open trophy."