OAKMONT, Pa. — Oakmont, already known as golf`s most formidable test, faced an additional challenge it didn`t need: a severe storm. The heavy downpour intensified the difficulty, turning fairways into virtual waterways and adding another layer of complexity for the world`s best golfers competing for a major championship. The sheets of rain that fell on Sunday felt like a cruel twist for those striving to win.
Play was halted at 4:01 PM as the 18th green became completely submerged and unrecognizable. Players were taken off the course during the delay. Some used the time to eat or call family. Robert MacIntyre was seen trying to dry his shirt with an air conditioning unit. Fans sought scarce shelter on the 191-acre property, which is famously devoid of trees.
Soon after, Oakmont`s maintenance crew emerged with squeegees, working diligently to push water off the playing surfaces. The rain eventually ceased, and when play resumed at 5:40 PM, the leading players quickly realized the course was fundamentally different from when they had left it.
“Once the fairways were soaked, it was very hard controlling the golf ball,” commented Adam Scott. “It was borderline unplayable. But everyone had to deal with it.”
Despite the efforts with squeegees, the fairways remained far from dry. Balls landing off the tee had minimal roll, often moving backward. Contact with any club resulted in a splash, leaving players, even Scottie Scheffler, uncertain of the ball`s path. The course, already known for its difficulty, became an even harsher trial of patience and mental strength.
Cameron Young, who finished fourth, described the challenge: “It`s not fun waiting for squeegeeing, and there`s really not much rhythm to be had out there… You just have to guess [with] wet spots. There`s not a ton you can do. You`re waiting for them to squeegee them, but while it`s still raining out there, the water is collecting so fast, you`re kind of trying to smack it through puddles and see what you get.”
“It`s Sunday of the U.S. Open, one of the hardest setups, and the conditions were the hardest of the week,” Scott added. “Thank God it wasn`t like this all week.”
For a brief period after the delay, the sun peeked through, offering a tease of better weather. However, by the time the final group teed off on the 10th hole, the rain had returned. The tournament transformed from a race to surge ahead into a battle for survival. Even Justin Thomas, who had missed the cut, posted on social media from home that the conditions were “a little questionable to play.”
“It was a little close [to unplayable], but it was doable,” said Viktor Hovland. “The conditions got really, really tough, and this golf course is just a beast. It was a grind.”
While other players struggled to regain their momentum after the interruption, the challenging grind was precisely what J.J. Spaun needed to become one of the most unexpected major champions in recent history.
“I tried to just continue to dig deep,” Spaun stated. “I`ve been doing it my whole life.”
He began the day just one shot behind the leader, but his early performance quickly turned potential into disappointment. He bogeyed five of the first six holes, experiencing unfortunate breaks such as his ball hitting the flagstick and spinning off the green on the second hole, and his tee shot finding a bad lie in the rough on the third. By the turn, his scorecard showed a discouraging 40, leaving him a three-shot deficit and making it feel like his chance was gone. Then, the rain arrived.
“The best thing that happened was the reset,” commented Spaun`s coach, Josh Gregory.
“I felt like I had a chance, a really good chance to win the U.S. Open at the start of the day. It just unraveled very fast,” Spaun reflected. “But that break was actually the key for me to winning this tournament.”
Spaun`s career trajectory has been marked by exceeding expectations. He was never considered a top prospect or a future star in the making. As he mentioned Sunday, he wasn`t “groomed” to be a professional golfer, nor was winning a major anticipated. He secured his first PGA Tour victory at 31 and, until this year, was often seen as one of many journeymen primarily focused on retaining their tour card.
However, Spaun has made a significant leap this year. Heading into the week, he was ranked 15th in the world and gained considerable attention after losing in a playoff to Rory McIlroy at the Players Championship.
“He was right there,” Gregory said of the Players playoff. “I think that proved to him that, `Hey, I can do this. I can be one of the best in the world. I can be a rival. I can win a major championship.`”
Having recently navigated disappointment, Spaun appeared unfazed by bad breaks and the challenging weather on Sunday. On a day that demanded more than just sheer talent, Spaun knew where to draw the necessary strength.
“I think it`s just perseverance,” Spaun commented. “I`ve always kind of battled through whatever it may be to kind of get to where I needed to be and get to what I wanted.”
As the final groups approached the closing holes, the rain intensified once more. A strong breeze drove the precipitation, presenting Spaun with one final hurdle: Oakmont`s daunting 18th hole in another downpour.
Nine years prior, Dustin Johnson stood on the same tee, aiming to seal his first major win, and played the hole flawlessly. A perfect drive, a shot onto the green, and a short birdie putt later, he had conquered Oakmont.
On Sunday, Spaun mirrored that precision, splitting the fairway and finding the green. Under an umbrella held by his caddie, he took his time carefully reading the lengthy 64-foot putt. A par was all that was required for him to claim his first major title.
Throughout the week, players had speculated that even par might be enough to win the championship. Spaun was on the cusp of achieving this. But as Oakmont delivered one last exhausting challenge, Spaun responded with aggression.
“I didn`t want to play defensive,” Spaun explained.
The putt began its roll across the notoriously difficult, undulating green that has tormented countless players throughout its 124-year history. It curved left-to-right towards the iconic Sunday pin position and dropped directly into the center of the cup. A birdie.
“Are you serious?” his caddie, Mark Carens, exclaimed in disbelief as they walked towards the clubhouse. “What the f— just happened?”
Spaun was not only the last man standing, but he was also the only player to finish the tournament under par. The lone red number next to his name on the leaderboard will be remembered as a testament to his ability, resilience, and how he fought through everything the course, the weather, and his own mental state presented over 72 holes.
“He`s an overachiever, a grinder,” Gregory remarked. “That should validate to him that he`s one of the best players in the world.”
For Oakmont, the 1-under winning score might carry a hint of bittersweetness, particularly for a membership that perhaps hoped for an over-par champion to underscore the course`s difficulty. Yet, after 72 holes, including 18 incredibly demanding ones on Sunday, the course ultimately delivered a rightful winner to the golf world.
