OAKMONT, Pa. — J.J. Spaun transformed the chaos of a wet and challenging U.S. Open at Oakmont into an incredible finale on Sunday with two remarkable shots that led him to his inaugural major victory.
His impressive drive on the 314-yard 17th hole landed on the green, securing a birdie and advancing him into the lead. On the 18th, needing two putts from 65 feet to clinch the championship, he delivered an incredible ending by sinking the week’s longest birdie putt, finishing with a 2-over 72.
That made him the only player to finish under par at 1-under 279. It gave him a two-shot victory over Robert MacIntyre of Scotland.
This victory crowned Spaun, a 36-year-old Californian reminiscent of the late Pittsburgh Steelers legend Franco Harris, a major champion in only his second U.S. Open appearance.
The rain that put Oakmont on the edge of being unplayable might have saved Spaun. One shot behind at the start of the day, he opened with five bogeys in six holes. And then came a rain delay of 1 hour, 37 minutes.
Spaun recovered as so many others fell apart.
