OAKMONT, Pa. — Oakmont needed no additional challenges. It certainly didn`t require a severe storm to humble the world`s top golfers and transform the sport`s most rigorous test into something even tougher. So, when sheets of rain arrived on Sunday, turning vast stretches of grass into shallow pools, it felt like an added blow to those striving to win a major championship.
At 4:01 p.m., play was suspended. The 18th green became submerged under flowing water, and players were removed from the course. During the interruption, some ate, while others contacted their families. Robert MacIntyre reportedly removed his shirt and attempted to dry it using an air conditioning unit. Fans sought refuge under umbrellas or wherever possible on the 191-acre course, notable for featuring only a single tree.
Shortly after, Oakmont`s grounds crew emerged, equipped with squeegees, working to clear water from the playing areas. The rain eventually lessened, and play recommenced at 5:40 p.m. However, the leading players quickly realized the course they returned to was vastly different from the one they had left.
“Once the fairways were soaked, it was very hard controlling the golf ball,” commented Adam Scott. “It was almost unplayable. But everyone had to contend with it.”
Despite the efforts with squeegees, the fairways remained far from dry. Balls landing off the tee stopped abruptly or even rolled backward. Any contact with a club, be it an iron, wedge, or fairway wood, resulted in a splash. Even Scottie Scheffler admitted he was uncertain where the ball would go after striking it. The course, already challenging in its setup, evolved into an even more severe trial of patience and mental resilience.
“It`s not enjoyable waiting for squeegeeing, and there`s really no consistent rhythm to establish out there,” stated Cameron Young, who finished in fourth place. “There are wet spots. You just have to guess. There`s not much you can do. You wait for them to squeegee, but while it`s still raining, water accumulates so quickly, you`re essentially trying to hit through puddles and see what happens.”
“It`s Sunday of the U.S. Open, one of the most difficult setups, and the conditions were the toughest of the week,” Scott added. “Thank goodness it wasn`t like this throughout the entire week.”
For a few holes after the stoppage, the sun briefly broke through the clouds, offering a glimmer of hope to the competitors. However, by the time the final group teed off on the 10th hole, the rain had returned. The tournament ceased being about who could surge ahead and became about who could simply endure. Even Justin Thomas, who missed the cut earlier in the week, commented on social media from home that the course was “a little questionable to play.”
“It was close [to unplayable], but it was manageable,” said Viktor Hovland. “The conditions became truly, truly difficult, and this golf course is simply a beast. It was a real struggle.”
While other players struggled to recapture their pre-delay momentum, the difficult conditions and the need to grind were precisely what J.J. Spaun needed to emerge as one of the most improbable major winners in recent history.
“I just tried to keep digging deep,” Spaun reflected. “I`ve been doing that my entire life.”
He began the day just one shot behind the leader, Burns, but his initial promise quickly turned into disappointment. He bogeyed five of the first six holes. On the second, his ball struck the flagstick and spun off the green. On the third, his tee shot found a difficult lie in the rough. By the turn, his scorecard showed a score of 40, putting him three shots behind, and it seemed like his chances were gone. Then, the rain arrived.
“The best thing that could have 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 fell apart very quickly,” Spaun admitted. “But that break was actually key to me winning this tournament.”
Spaun`s career has often been characterized by exceeding expectations. He was never considered a highly-touted prospect or a future star. As he mentioned on Sunday, he was never “groomed” to be a professional golfer, nor was he expected to win a major championship. He secured his first PGA Tour victory at the age of 31 and, until this year, was one of many touring professionals whose primary objective was maintaining their PGA Tour card.
This year, however, Spaun has made significant progress. Leading up to this week, he was ranked 15th in the world golf rankings and gained considerable attention after losing to Rory McIlroy in a playoff at the Players Championship.
“He was right there,” Gregory noted. “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 contender. I can win a major championship.`”
Having recently faced disappointment, Spaun appeared unfazed by the bad breaks and adverse weather conditions on Sunday. On a day that demanded more than just raw talent, Spaun knew where to find the necessary strength.
“I think it`s just perseverance,” Spaun reflected. “I`ve always kind of fought through whatever obstacles presented themselves to get to where I needed to be and achieve what I wanted.”
As the final groups approached the closing holes, the rain intensified once more. A breeze swept the precipitation from west to east, presenting Spaun with a final formidable challenge: Oakmont`s 18th hole in another deluge.
Nine years prior, Dustin Johnson stood on that very tee, aiming to seal his first major victory, 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 split the fairway. He successfully reached the green and then, sheltered by an umbrella held by his caddie, he carefully read the challenging 64-foot putt. To win his first major, all he needed was a par.
Throughout the week, players had speculated that if anyone could finish the tournament at even par, they might likely claim the trophy. Spaun was on the verge of achieving just that. But as Oakmont subjected its competitors to one final exhausting test, Spaun responded aggressively.
“I didn`t want to play defensive,” Spaun stated.
The putt began its journey across the notoriously undulating green, which has tormented countless players over its 124-year history, curving from left to right towards the iconic Sunday pin placement. It found the dead center of the cup. Birdie.
“Are you serious?” his caddie, Mark Carens, exclaimed walking up the stairs to the clubhouse. “What the f— just happened?”
Spaun was more than just the last man standing; he was the only one to finish under par. The single red number beside his name will be a lasting memory. For Spaun, it serves as proof of many things: his capability, his resilience, and how he battled everything the golf course, the weather, and his own mental state threw at him over 72 holes.
“He`s an overachiever, a grinder,” Gregory commented. “That performance should validate to him that he is indeed one of the best players in the world.”
For Oakmont, the 1-under winning score might be somewhat bittersweet. The course didn`t produce a winning score over par as some members might have preferred, but over 72 holes, including 18 grueling ones on Sunday, it once again delivered the golf world a truly deserving champion.
