The U.S. Open is unique.
You can set your watch by the fact that the word “carnage” will be associated with it on an annual basis. The United States’ national championship requires skill obviously, but also grit and resilience. Withstanding the test that a course, in this year’s case Oakmont, throws at you over and over and over again is not for the faint of heart.
It is an exam that only J.J. Spaun was capable of answering.
Spaun finished his round on Father’s Day as the only player under par, an incredible note about winning a major championship, and in absolutely incredible walk-off fashion. He proved that he was the most deserving winner of all who dared to tee it up last week.
Spaun did not begin the week as one of the favorites for the tournament. He is not one of golf’s current big three in Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy. Prior to last week the most that people had been exposed to Spaun was earlier this year when he went to a Monday playoff at the Players Championship with Rory McIlroy, one where Rory simply outdid him over the course of three holes. It was a brutal end to what would have been a wonderful story.
In many ways you could argue that Spaun’s U.S. Open journey began there. Fighting through the adversity to even climb the leaderboard at TPC Sawgrass… earning a playoff with someone who the entire world was rooting for over him… having to deal with losing it… powering through several months after the fact… and then dealing with the challenges that Oakmont (and the weather surrounding it) presented.
J.J. Spaun is a major champion now and his golf game has the scars to prove it. He fought relentlessly did did not blink when the literal entire field did, several times over.
History may remember the tournament-winning putt as the ultimately moment for Spaun, but we would do well to revel in it all. His journey was about the months, the career, that preceded that moment and even several of the golf shots. Spaun fought back after a rough front nine and delivered some of the most amazing drives we have ever seen on both 17 and 18 to slam the door shut on any potential playoff (he likely didn’t want to go that route again).
It was a thrilling finish. One that J.J. Spaun will never forget.
