J.J. Spaun Says He Never Thought He'd Win the U.S. Open: 'It's Still a Surreal Moment'

Published: June 17, 2025

The California native tells PEOPLE that "fortunate breaks" helped him to come out on top at Oakmont on Sunday, June 15.

Fortunate Breaks and a Weather Delay Helped Spaun to Victory

J.J. Spaun, the 34-year-old California native, never thought he would be hoisting the U.S. Open trophy, and it's still a surreal moment," he says.

However, Spaun did just that on Father's Day, surviving the Oakmont Country Club, one of the most difficult courses on the tour, amid dreary weather and wicked roughs to beat out a field of the world's best. And he did so by clinching the major in epic fashion with a 64-plus-foot putt.

After his playing partner, Viktor Hovland, hit a shot close by and then went before him to putt, Spaun was able to get a better read on where his own ball could go.

"It was just one of those things that when you win golf tournaments, you need fortunate breaks, things to go your way in order to win," Spaun tells PEOPLE about his putt. "And that was one of the things that helped me pull the win off on Sunday."

A Weather Delay Helped Spaun to Reset

Another break came when he had to take a break — rain moved in and delayed play for 90 minutes. All of which was ideal timing for Spaun, whose start on Sunday was less than ideal when he carded five bogeys on his first six holes.

"It was huge having the delay," Spaun tells PEOPLE. "It was actually a blessing in disguise. I kind of liken it to getting to have time in a big NBA game or any other sport where you can recollect your thoughts and come back with a game plan and assess, and most importantly just reset."

Earlier this season in March, nearly the same thing happened to Spaun when weather delayed The Players Championship, and it forced the golfer to regroup. He eventually went on to turn his round around and make the playoff with Rory McIlroy, who ended up winning the tournament.

Now a two-time PGA Tour winner, Spaun says he is relishing all that comes with the newfound notoriety — and adds that even he can't help but rewatch that putt on 18.

"I mean, I can't hide from it, it's everywhere right now," he says. "And it was such a great moment to kind of relive and see it and just think that shot is going to be in the archives forever."

Spaun adds, "You can only dream of yourself doing that. There's so many iconic moments throughout championship history that you're like, 'Oh man, that's awesome. Will that ever happen to me?' And you never know what the future holds. And sure enough, I had my moment."