A rain delay, a stunning comeback, and one of the most clutch putts in major championship history

Sometimes golf gives you exactly what you didn’t know you needed. Sunday at Oakmont was one of those days – the kind that reminds you why we fall in love with this beautiful, brutal game in the first place.

What started as a weather-delayed slog turned into pure theater, complete with a comeback story that Hollywood couldn’t have scripted better. We witnessed the kind of Sunday that separates major champions from everyone else, where one man’s disaster became another’s destiny.

The Collapse: When Pressure Gets Personal

Let’s talk about what pressure does to people. Sam Burns and Adam Scott – the overnight leaders who looked destined for glory – both imploded spectacularly. We’re talking about two of the worst final rounds in recent U.S. Open history.

Burns, who hadn’t three-putted all week, suddenly couldn’t find the hole with a GPS. Scott, the 44-year-old veteran chasing his second major after 12 years, watched his dreams slip away shot by shot. The cruel irony? Scott had tweeted inspiration from one of these guys five years ago, trying to fix his swing.

Sometimes the golf gods have a twisted sense of humor.

The Resurrection: Four Holes That Changed Everything

Here’s where the story gets absolutely wild. J.J. Spaun looked completely out of it early in his round. The guy who had been Mr. Consistency for three days suddenly appeared human, and not in a good way.

But then something clicked after the rain delay. Maybe it was the break that cleared his head. Maybe it was watching the leaders fall apart in front of him. Whatever it was, Spaun turned into a different golfer entirely.

Four birdies on the back nine. Four. On Oakmont. In the final round of a major.

The 12th hole putt? A downhill slider that had no business going in. The 14th? Another death-defying downhill bomb. The 17th? Just setting up the fireworks for 18.

That 18th Hole: Pure Poetry in Motion

If you didn’t see that final putt on 18, you missed one of the most clutch moments in major championship history. We’re talking about a putt that was tracking about six feet past the hole if it didn’t drop. The kind of aggressive, all-or-nothing stroke that separates winners from also-rans.

Viktor Hovland, playing alongside him, said it best: “That was absolutely filthy.” Coming from a guy who knows a thing or two about pressure putts, that’s high praise.

The reaction from other players said everything. Tyrrell Hatton – a guy not exactly known for his calm demeanor – was genuinely emotional watching it happen. These guys know greatness when they see it.

The Journey: From Rock Bottom to the Mountaintop

Here’s the part that’ll give you chills. A year ago, Spaun was ranked 164th in the world. He’d been battling health issues for years – misdiagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2018, finally correctly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2021. He dropped to 584th in the world rankings and lost his PGA Tour card.

Think about that for a second. From losing your tour card to holding the U.S. Open trophy in less than four years. That’s not just a comeback story – that’s a testament to what the human spirit can accomplish when it refuses to quit.

The Numbers That Tell the Story

Spaun finished as the only player under par for the week. Let that sink in. On a course that had been eating up major champions for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, one guy managed to stay in red numbers for 72 holes.

His putting stats for the final round? Fourth in strokes gained putting for the day, second for the entire championship. When you absolutely have to make putts, some guys just find another gear.

The California Connection

Spaun joins some pretty elite company as the third California native to win the U.S. Open this century. Tiger Woods (2000, 2002, 2008) and Bryson DeChambeau (2020, 2024) are the others. Not bad company to keep.

And here’s a fun college golf fact that’ll blow your mind: San Diego State has now produced winners of three of the past six major championships. Spaun joins fellow Aztec Xander Schauffele (2024 PGA Championship, 2024 Open) in that exclusive club.

The Human Moments

The best part about major championship Sundays? The humanity that shows through when everything’s on the line. Adam Scott walking over to congratulate Spaun despite his own heartbreak. Hovland’s genuine excitement for his playing partner. Jim “Bones” Mackay making sure Spaun’s caddie got the flag from 18.

These moments remind us that beneath all the pressure and prize money, these guys are still human beings living out their dreams and nightmares in real time.

The Bottom Line

“I never thought I’d be here holding this trophy,” Spaun said afterward. “A few months ago I never knew what my ceiling was.”

That’s the beautiful thing about major championships – they don’t care about your world ranking or your expectations. They care about who can handle the heat when the kitchen gets nuclear hot.

Oakmont delivered exactly what it promised: drama, heartbreak, and ultimately, magic. One man’s disaster became another’s destiny, and we were all lucky enough to witness lightning strike in the most spectacular way possible.

Sometimes the golf gods smile on the right person at exactly the right moment. Sunday at Oakmont was one of those days.