Celebrate J.J. Spaun's victory in the U.S. Open -- with a 64-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole -- with a USA TODAY commemorative page print

It's all big for champion J.J. Spaun, particularly the last one as Spaun was only recently worried about losing his livelihood. That's no longer a concern. Spaun, also The Players runner-up, has earned over $9.

J.J. Spaun rallied back from a no good, very bad start to win the U.S. Open by two shots — which he partly credits to long-ago advice given by fellow golfer Tiger Woods.

He told me, ‘You got to give them a hug or you put the boot right up their butt and nothing in between. Sometimes it calls for tough love and it’s not always as obvious as you think.’ ” So,

OAKMONT, Pa. – J.J. Spaun’s closing pursuit of major glory began at 3 a.m. Sunday in, of all places, a CVS in downtown Pittsburgh. Spaun’s almost 2-year-old daughter, Violet, had woken up with a stomach bug, and mere hours into Father’s Day, dad duty called.

Bogey, bogey, bogey, par, bogey, bogey. It’s a helluva way to start the most important round of your life.

J.J. Spaun managed the rain and a tough Oakmont course to win the 2025 U.S. Open, the first major victory for the California-native.

Spaun could never have known his entire professional career prepared him for this moment in Western Pennsylvania

It is of no consolation to the players that, unlike most venues, the conditions don’t change much. Oakmont plays nearly as difficult for the amateur membership as it does for the world’s best pros.

Maybe, just maybe, anybody can win a U.S. Open. Including a 34-year-old PGA Tour journeyman counted out after nine holes.

Tiger Woods proved to be a motivation for JJ Spaun's U.S. Open win after a rain-soaked course challenged him to the edge.