The US Open Champion debuts in the last Major of the year

JJ Spaun talks with the press in the preview of The Open Championship

Well, good morning everybody. Um, delighted to say this morning we’re joined by JJ Spawn, the US Open champion. JJ, welcome to Royal Port Rush. Um, I assume you’re looking forward to a great debut in the open. Yeah, totally. Uh, this is my first open, so get a proper links test and just excited to make my debut here at such a beautiful venue. What’s the key do you think for, you know, taking your game from America to coming to Lynx Golf? I think uh initially it’ll just be learning to play different shots. You kind of want to play everything airborne in America. Um pick your number, try to fly it there, and hopefully it spins and stops near the hole. But uh Lynx golf requires a lot more creativity, imagination. So, you know, learning to flight shots better and trying to guess bounces, I guess, correctly is going to be sort of the challenge this week. But uh also the elements, you know, I don’t think the forecast is looking very great. Um obviously not perfect like today, but um that’ll be probably the other uh you know, battle I guess this week. Okay, we’ll go to the floor for questions. Garrett JJ, I had a question for you. Um when you think it’s been a month obviously since the United States Open win there at Oakmont, but behind the scenes, I talked to both your coaches and there were some pep talks that both of them gave you there and the rain delay. I’m just curious like what what do you take away from that now just just looking back on those conversations with both your coaches? Yeah, I took away a lot of sort of confidence. I felt like they were instilling a lot of confidence and self-belief is, you know, a huge key to to pulling off a big event like a major, let alone a US Open. So, I think it’s very reassuring and and calming to have a group of guys in your corner um that are just instilling the confidence in you to to pull this off. I mean, you know, I hadn’t been in that territory really very often, just once earlier this year at the players, but um nothing like learning experiences that have helped me come through on the other side at the US Open. So, uh, it was great to have, you know, my team by me and and helping me, you know, stay in the moment, stay in the present and not give up because I mean before the rain delay was not looking great for me at the US Open. And and a quick followup just your team you mentioned there, the overall team, your Caddy, how cool has it been the last month seeing the adelation, the uh congratulations he’s gotten as well along the journey? Yeah, totally. There’s been so many people reaching out. Um, you know, Mark’s been out here for 30 years and, you know, he’s had some big wins. He won the the players with Siu Kim about 9 years ago, so he’s been in the moment and, you know, he he was a really good attribute to have coming down the stretch. You know, kept me calm, gave me really words, great words of encouragement and, you know, there’s no one I would rather have on on the bag, you know, coming down the stretch at the US Open. Mike, Mike, two over here. Thank you. Hi, JJ. Um, Scotty made some very interesting comments yesterday talking about winning and it and it feeling unfulfilling um and and the the joy of it being quite fleeting. I just interested to know your experience because obviously you know grinding away for for a long time and then getting such a big win. Did it has it felt as good as you thought it would? Um and yeah h you know how have you wrestled with the experience and has there been a comedown in the time after? Was there you know a reality sinking in again after that such a high? I believe there’s some truth behind Scotty’s words for sure. Um, you know, yeah, you do have these high aspirations, these dreams to accomplish things in golf at the highest level and then you do and it’s it happens so quick and then you’re you’re so elated and then all of a sudden it’s like now what? So, um, you know, I tried to sink it in as much as possible and and it did. Um, but it it’s it’s a weird feeling. You know, I never thought I would, you know, win a major, but uh, you know, let alone a few years ago, I was just trying to get in them. Uh, so I think, yeah, there’s some testament to that. You got to really I think it goes back to like your priorities, what you really want to accomplish, not only in this game, but in your life. And I think that’s true to what Scotty said, like he’s more focused on being, you know, a better person off the course than than achieving historic monuments, you know, monumental things um on the course. So I would say, yeah, it it was really surreal when I won, but uh you know, I I still wake up every morning trying to pinch myself looking at the trophy and just think it’s actually mine. So it is weird. It kind of comes and goes very fast. Um, and how much has life changed? You know, obviously there are new demands placed on you. You’ve gone from trying to get into majors and then this week you’re a headline press conference at one of them. That’s I guess one of the things is that you’re you’re more in demand. But how has life changed for you over the past month? Yeah, I’m getting more recognition, you know, uh whether I’m just walking down the street, uh you know, getting put in marquee groups, you know, there’s definitely expectation, but at the end of the day, like golf is just golf and I’m trying to just play my game and that’s the attitude I’ve had all season long and whether, you know, I’m, you know, the reigning US Open champion. Yeah, there’s going to be some expectation, but I feel like this whole season I’ve been been doing a good job of just trying not to let the moment feel bigger than itself, you know, uh just trying to play my game and and go out there and do what I do. And if you know, cards fall in the right place, then I’ll be, you know, having more opportunities. Mike three at the front of you. I congrats on that last pot. Uh what what do you think that the lap putter helps you? what have you felt with it and and how how did you get it? How why did you start trying that? So, I got the Lab putter, the DF3, uh last November of 2024. Um I had been looking for a little bit more forgiveness off the face um as far as contact goes. And I’d been using a traditional blade style putter pretty much my entire career. And you know, mallets were kind of a phase the last year or so. And uh I just had difficulty getting comfortable with, you know, a traditional mallet with, you know, traditional hoszle or, you know, where the shaft goes into the putter. And uh I just picked up one of the labs um on a Tuesday. I think it was in Dallas like at the Charles Schwab back in May. And I kind of liked it. So I had one built up and I just had it at home and uh finally gave it some time in the offseason and really learned to like it and understand my tendencies with it. But the biggest thing that I’ve noticed with that putter is no matter where you hit it on the face, it carries the speed that you’re intending to have. Um, and I think that’s behind the whole technology of the putter where, you know, you can misstrike it, but because of the forgiveness and the way it’s balanced, it it still creates the role that you’re wanting to have on that line of putt that you’re hitting. So, I think it’s been really uh good for me all season long because of just that, you know? I mean, speed is king when it comes to putting. If you don’t hit your speed on the line, you’re pro, you’re, you know, narrowing your chances of making the putt. So, uh, to kind of forget about one variable as far as hitting good contact and getting the speed has been nice, having that putter, uh, do it for me. Yeah. One. So, JJ, three players from San Diego State here this week. Two of them major winners. I wonder if you have a good explanation for this and uh, and also, how much do you talk with Justin and with Chander? No. Yeah, I’ve I’ve known Xander for a very long time. Um I don’t I haven’t gotten to know Justin yet as much as I’d like to just because he’s not out here very much, but he’s been out here at the Masters and I obviously that we had a podium sweep at the US Open, you know, he had the low amateur and I won the tournament, so that was really cool. Um, but I just think San Diego State, you know, that’s it’s a testament to how good the program is. And I think they’re really good at developing sort of I wouldn’t say underlooked players, but just guys that don’t be given chances. Like I didn’t really have a chance. They gave me a chance. Xander was a great player um coming out, but he wanted to stay locally, stay comfortable, and and it turned him into, you know, one of the greatest players of all time. So, I’m sure Donovan, my coach at San Diego State, kind of has that in his back pocket and understands that, you know, as long as he keeps doing what he’s doing, giving guys chances, opportunities, and the resources, they’re going to turn out to be great players. And we’re seeing that with Justin. And I wonder what you’re saying is, and I can see the three of you kind of embracing being under the radar if that comes from that, and and how much does it help you? No, in a way, yeah, it being kind of flying under the radar. I feel like that’s kind of what I’ve done my whole career. Um, so yeah, it’s a it’s a big difference kind of having the spotlight on me now and expectations, but you know, all I can do is just rely on the experiences that I’ve had. um you know coming down the stretch at the US Open getting myself in the playoff at the players and uh you know I’ve I’ve had way bigger challenges whether it’s life or or golf or losing my card or you know I’ve I’ve had other issues to go through than just you know being more in the spotlight. So I’m learning to embrace it and I’m excited for the challenge it brings. Okay, John in the middle. Thanks. Uh JJ, um it was very impressive in Oakmont on the second hole of the last day when your ball hit the flag, rolled all the way back. What was really impressive about it was how impassive you remained at that as if um you know, you were in complete control of the situation. If I said you were impassive generally, would you accept that? And would you please give those of us over here who don’t know you as well some adjectives to describe yourself? I wouldn’t say I’m entirely impassive. Uh kind of grading that week as far as performance goes. You know, the golf swing was really good. Probably a B+ A minus short game and putting was Bish. It wasn’t like I was I was, you know, striking on all cylinders. You know, I had some bad swings here and there, but uh my team and I, we kind of looked back and my we kind of graded my attitude with an A. And I think that’s what kind of helped me win that tournament because, for instance, you know, hitting a the exact shot that I imagined on number two and and having it to get an unlucky bounce like that, you know, it was almost it was pretty much a twoot swing. Um, so I felt like if I just got down on myself or upset that was just going to amplify the the struggle that I was already going through on that round. So I my C’s done a great job of telling me like everyone’s going to get bad breaks. You can’t sometimes you want to make it feel like you’re the only one getting the bad breaks and it definitely felt like that on the front nine. But, uh, I just try to keep, you know, a positive attitude and and I think I was able to equalize that by getting to the the ball after it hit the stick and then in that collection area 50 yards from the hole. And I told myself, well, at least it’s not in a divot, you know, like an old divot, which would have made that third shot even harder. So, I think that kind of brought me back to levelheadedness and and just do the best I can to get it up and down. What about the second part of my question? Describe yourself. For those of us over here who don’t know you as well as people who come in in in America, how would you describe your character? Give me some adjectives that describe JJ’s form. Humble. Um I think humble is probably the only one that I can think of now. I I try to, you know, I don’t like to self- glorify myself or or pursue like or exude like a like an aura. I just I try to treat people how I’d want to be treated and and let let the golf talk for itself. And uh you know, I think that there’s a lot of guys that are out here that think of themselves that way, but um yeah, that’s that’s pretty much how I feel. Josh, hi JJ. Um, not only did you you win the US Open, but you did it in, you know, really tough conditions at Oakmont, you know, what does that do for your confidence levels in your game, you know, especially coming to a week like this? Yeah, I I think I just have to be able to tap back into that memory bank and and just remember, okay, it was tough conditions, it was raining, uh, and I, you know, won the US Open, you know, coming down the stretch hitting all those really good shots and that, you know, we don’t really play in a ton of tough conditions in America. It’s always pretty mild, you know, moderate weather. So, um, I think all I can do is kind of fall back on that experience and know that I’ve got it done at a really, you know, pivotal moment, uh, probably in the worst weather of the week and I can pull it off kind of anywhere. Mike one, AJ, you said earlier you didn’t think of yourself winning majors. Why did you have that mentality? I don’t know. Oh, I just I feel like that I’ve had to prove to myself that I’m worthy of just playing on the PJ tour and and winning on the PJ tour and just trying to get into these events alone was sort of what kind of helped me or what sort of made me lack that self-confidence. Um, you know, it’s hard enough just to win in general on the PJ tour and you kind of get in your own head thinking, well, if I if I can’t win, you know, a normal event on the PJ tour, what makes you think you can win a major? Um, but yeah, let alone I was struggling just to get in them. But, uh, that’s kind of how my careers developed. You know, I never really knew how far I could go and whether it was playing division one golf, getting to the PJ tour, then winning on the PJ tour. I just I I I don’t really know what’s in store for myself. So, who knows? I mean, I don’t know what what I’m capable of now. I mean, I know what I can do and that’s all I can really rely on. Did you imagine yourself being a Ryder Cup player and uh where did the motivation to make the team this year come from? I think I don’t think I’ve ever thought of being on the Ryder Cup or imagining myself on the Ryder Cup, but I’ve been hearing that a lot throughout the last few years. um you know for my caddy and my coach like they’ve been kind of putting that out there and almost in a way manifesting it which is kind of weird. Um you know my caddy’s always believed in me even when I was ranked outside of the top 100. He’s like I think you’re a top 10 player in the world. I mean he thinks I could be number one but honestly let’s let’s talk let’s be real. But uh but he was like well I at least think you’re top 10. And I was like okay sure. and uh you know here we are you know top 10 in the world and and he he always believed that I could be on the Ryder Cup and here we are you know looking pretty good for the RDER Cup and uh it’s just weird how you kind of hear you soak in those things that people tell you and then it just sort of ends up happening and I think that has to do a lot with developing and and believing it yourself. So uh it was funny like the week before the US Open I was sending my coach swings and I was like what do you think? He’s like, “I think that’s the US Open champ.” I’m like, “Let’s no technically like what do you see?” You know, not not just in the video. So, it was pretty ironic, but I think there’s truth to be told about manifesting and and telling yourself positive reinforcement, you know, for future success. Further question at the front here. Thanks. Are you are you making any changes in your bag to play links for this week? And and do you have any any personal favorite link courses? I haven’t made any tweaks or changes. I mean, I’m probably going to add a three iron that I always keep in my bag, like a driving iron. Um, that’s more of an option that I use week in and week out. Um, obviously more for windy conditions. It kind of it replaces my sevenwood, which is goes pretty much the same number, but this one’s got more of a flatter flight. I can flight it better. So, that’s about it uh equipment wise. And, uh, sorry, what was the other part? Do you have any any Lynx courses that you like the most? Any favorite courses? Not necessarily on the on the ROA, but but links that you like to play. The only other Lynx course I ever played was in uh Oregon at Bandon Dunes and like I mean that’s not true Lynx, but it’s Lynx for America and then obviously the Scottish Open. So, I don’t have a ton of experience on links and uh but it’s really fun and it’s definitely a different game, but uh you know that’s why we’re here early and trying to get acclimated to it. Good luck. Thank you. Mike four. Hi JJ. Um, can I just get your thoughts on the 16th here and where it sort of ranks in the sort of par threes you played in your career because it’s it’s a signature hole here and some people see it as fearsome with that drop on the right. So I just want to get your thoughts on it, please. Yeah, I played it Monday, but I just hit only the T-OT and actually missed it down in the right, but it’s pretty intimidating like visually. Um, I didn’t know it was like 240 plus yards. So, um, when dependent can really make it a tough hole and, uh, I think just making it making four par four pars on that hole is you’re going to be gaining strokes on the field, you know. Uh, and that’s why they call it what? Calamity corner. You know, there’s there’s going to be some calamity there. Any further questions? One more. You do anything fun with the US Open trophy? Any good stories? Um, no. We all shared some drinks out of it on uh Sunday night after the the US Open in Oakmont and fun stories. No, I mean, we did the media tour in New York City, so it was kind of cool kind of showing it off and meeting everyone at the Today Show and all that fun stuff, but but like I think Xander I saw something today like he doesn’t even know where his trophies are. So, it is kind of a weird thing. you you get the trophy and you admire it for, you know, a day or two and then it’s it, you know, it just sits there or maybe it goes into a bank vault like he said, but I’m going to have mine on display. Where you going to put it? Uh, I have like a little trophy case like in our main living room and it’s got it’s got a couple cornfairy one, Canadian tour one, my Valero Texas Open one and the US Open one now like right in the middle. Okay, we’ll just take the last two questions in the room. Start with Garrett. Hey JJ, just real quick take the behind the curtain for a second. You just talked about your trophies, but I think about um your workout routines. What do those look like for you during tournament weeks? So, I always do a workout like an activation workout before I play, whether it’s practice rounds or practice or tournament days. So, uh it’s been really important getting my body activated and moving and and warm before you go play. Uh it’s a routine I started about five, six years ago. And I think it’s it’s helped me develop, you know, physically more strength. Um, I’m hitting hitting the ball a lot further than I ever have in my career. And, you know, I’m not getting younger. So, I think, you know, longevity, you want to do what’s right for your body and and you know, most most importantly, you know, my trainer does a good job of creating workouts to prevent me from getting injured. I think that’s like objective one for all trainers out here. You know, you’re trying to create strength in certain parts of your body to take the the payload of swinging a golf club thousands and thousands of times. So, um I think that’s very important especially the older you get it comes it becomes really important. Okay, Juan last question. So, a quick follow up on the trophies. Sand was saying yesterday also that no trophy room and no pictures of himself. So, I don’t know if you have any pictures of yourself there or uh No, the only picture I have of myself is not just myself, but it’s my family at the part three contest at at Augusta. So, that’s that’s the only picture. But it’s it’s weird seeing yourself and I don’t know if it goes back to me just feeling uncomfortable that I try to stay humble. I don’t want to, you know, look at a shrine of myself every day at home. But yeah, no pictures.