J.J. Spaun Credits Tiger Woods' Advice for Come-from-Behind Victory at U.S. Open: 'Just a Dream'

Published: June 16, 2025

California native J.J. Spaun won his first major championship with a two-stroke victory at the U.S. Open on June 15, 2025. Spaun, who was Thursday's leader after hitting a bogey-free round of 66, started Sunday one stroke behind leader Sam Burns, but then carded five bogeys on his first six holes.

However, 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.

Spaun, who had never finished in the top 20 in a major and had previously only won once, at the Valero Texas Open in 2022, went on to make five straight pars and a 40-plus-foot putt for birdie on the 12th hole, moving him into a five-way tie for first.

The 34-year-old Los Angeles native sealed the deal to win his first major at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania on Sunday, June 15 by sinking a 64-plus-foot putt in rainy conditions that only told half the story.

Spaun credited a 90-minute rain delay, which actually helped him to regroup and refocus, after a coach told him he was "trying too hard."

He also flashed on advice once relayed to him by friend and golfer Max Homa, where Tiger Woods said, "As long as you just like are still there, you don't have to do anything crazy, especially at a U.S. Open."

Spaun went on to make two birdies on 17 and 18, becoming only the fifth Open champion to birdie-birdie on the final two holes, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

"Just to finish it off like that is just a dream," Spaun said after he drained the 18th hole, finishing as the only player under par.

On Father's Day, Spaun tossed his club in the air, enveloped his caddie, Mark Carens, and later hugged his wife, Melody, and their daughters, Violet, 2, and Emerson Lili, 4.

"You watch other people do it," Spaun said. "You see the Tiger chip, you see Nick Taylor's putt, you see crazy moments. To have my own moment like that at this championship, I'll never forget this moment for the rest of my life."

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