In one of the most grueling and unforgettable editions of the U.S. Open in recent memory, J.J. Spaun etched his name into history as the only player to finish under par (-1), capturing the 2025 U.S. Open title at the infamous Oakmont Country Club. Spaun posted a final score of 1-under-par 279, surviving punishing course conditions, erratic weather, and a roller-coaster final round that tested the mental and physical limits of the world’s best golfers.

J.J. Spaun celebrates with the trophy after winning the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Photo by Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press)
A Grit-Fueled Victory
Spaun entered Sunday’s final round with a three-shot lead after back-to-back rounds of 66 and 68. However, the final day began disastrously for the 33-year-old, who carded five bogeys in his first six holes, making the turn at 40. With a tight leaderboard forming and the field closing in, Spaun steadied the ship on the back nine.
Following a 96-minute weather delay, Spaun regrouped and mounted an astonishing recovery, making birdies on the 12th, 14th, and 17th holes. The defining moment came at the 18th green, where he drained a 65-foot birdie putt—the longest of the tournament—to close with a round of 73 and a two-shot victory.
This marked Spaun’s first major championship title and the biggest win of his career.
Runner-Up: Robert MacIntyre’s Valiant Charge
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre shot a final-round 68 to finish at +1 (281) and claim solo second. Starting the day seven strokes back, MacIntyre mounted a late rally and had a birdie attempt at the 18th to pull within one, but it lipped out. He became the first Scottish player since Colin Montgomerie to record a top-two finish at a U.S. Open.
Notable Finishers and Scores
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3rd – Viktor Hovland (+2, 282): The Norwegian played steady golf throughout the weekend but couldn’t make enough birdies on Sunday to challenge Spaun.
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T4 – Tyrrell Hatton, Cameron Young, Carlos Ortiz (+3, 283): All three players showed moments of brilliance but faltered with late bogeys.
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T7 – Scottie Scheffler (+4): The World No. 1 struggled with Oakmont’s treacherous rough and fast greens but managed a top-10 finish.
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T19 – Rory McIlroy (+7): Another missed opportunity in a major for McIlroy, who couldn’t find any momentum on the slick putting surfaces.
Sam Burns’ Collapse
Sam Burns was the story of the first three rounds, shooting 66, 65, and 72 to lead entering Sunday. However, the Louisiana native faltered on championship Sunday, carding a final-round 78, including four bogeys and two doubles. He finished the tournament at +4, T7—a harsh reminder of Oakmont’s cruelty under pressure.
Defending Champion Bryson DeChambeau Misses the Cut
Reigning U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau was one of the biggest surprises of the week—for all the wrong reasons. He shot a 73 in the opening round and followed it with a 74, finishing at +7 and missing the cut.
Patrick Reed’s Historic Albatross

Patrick Reed picks up his ball after carding an albatross on the par-5 fourth at Oakmont Country Club. Photo by- Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
On Thursday, Patrick Reed delivered one of the tournament's most jaw-dropping moments when he holed out a 3-wood from 286 yards on the par-5 4th hole for an albatross. It was only the fourth recorded albatross in U.S. Open history and the first since 2012. Despite this rare feat, Reed finished outside the top 20 after inconsistent play.
Oakmont’s Relentless Test

An Aerial View of the Oakmont Country Club
The 2025 U.S. Open reminded the world why Oakmont is considered the toughest test in American golf. Only eight rounds under par were recorded across all four days. The course played to a punishing average of 74.6, with lightning-fast greens, brutal rough, and penal bunkers turning every hole into a survival challenge.
Final-round drama saw as many as five players tied for the lead at +1 on the back nine, emphasizing the razor-thin margin for error.
A Champion’s Resolve
J.J. Spaun’s ability to weather the storm—literally and figuratively—sets this U.S. Open apart. From his bogey-riddled front nine to a birdie-laden finish capped by one of the longest putts ever made to clinch a major, Spaun’s victory was a study in mental fortitude.
The 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont will be remembered not just for its brutal conditions and high-profile stumbles, but for the emergence of a champion who kept his composure when it mattered most.