US Open winner feeling the respect of the elite after Oakmont triumph
13:08, 09 Jul 2025Updated 13:08, 09 Jul 2025
JJ Spaun celebrates US Open success
JJ Spaun cherishes respect and a special note from Jack Nicklaus as he revealed a prophecy made about Bob MacIntyre winning the 2026 US Open.
The American star says he’ll never get sick of congratulations after his dramatic triumph at Oakmont.
Spaun has highlights with the biggest being a message from the Golden Bear. He explained: “Jack Nicklaus wrote a very nice letter to me. It was funny, I saw him in passing at the Memorial Tournament, the last tournament I played before the US Open. He stopped me. I never really engaged with him before that and he just said I was playing really well.
“I said: Yeah, it would have been nice to win. He’s like: You keep knocking on that door, you’re going to knock one down. Literally, the next week that happened. He remembered that and sent me a nice note, which was really cool. To think about how far I’ve come and how much I’ve achieved just this season alone. It’s pretty crazy.
“I’ve been out here for eight, nine years now and you see the same guys, but you kind of notice a little bit of change in tone or I guess more of like respect. You earn some respect, especially from the top guys. They engage a little bit more with you.
“You kind of feel you’re at a different level now, winning a major. It feels good to kind of earn that respect from my peers and making me feel like I belong, which is huge for confidence and huge for self-belief. I still can’t fathom every time someone congratulates me. It’s still a pinch-me moment that it’s something that I did do. It’s awesome. I’ll never get sick of it. I’m completely honoured.
“And, also, being over here and just how much of a worldwide effect I think it had, children here and fans here. Obviously this is golf country, everyone is aware of what happened. I try not to let it be like a victory-lap mentality, but it still feels that way.”
Wow! Robert MacIntyre watched JJ Spaun hole his third shot on the 18th green
Spaun pipped MacIntyre at the post with the Scot going viral with his applause at the American’s heroic 72nd hole putt to win. He smiled: “I actually ran into his manager [Iain Stoddart] the morning after on Monday morning and he was happy. He was really delighted for me and and he said: You know what, that’s okay, because what you did to Bob, that’s okay. Rory McIlroy did that to Bob here at the Scotland the year before and then Bob comes back and wins the next year. So he said: Now we’re winning the following year. It’s all good!”
