JJ. Spaun fought back to win a dramatic U.S. Open at Oakmont, and the American revealed his friend Max Homa offered a story about Tiger Woods that proved key to his victory
22:32 ET, 15 Jun 2025Updated 22:33 ET, 15 Jun 2025
J.J. Spaun took inspiration from Tiger Woods, a three-time U.S. Open champion(Image: Getty Images)
U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun revealed fellow PGA Tour star Max Homa told him a Tiger Woods story that helped propel him to glory at Oakmont.
In a weather-affected final round of the 125th U.S. Open, Spaun got off to a horrible start but fought back to win. The 34-year-old shot five-over through the first six holes and threatened to fall away, only to admirably claw his way back into the picture.
Spaun — who lost to Rory McIlroy in a playoff at The Players earlier this season – hit a sublime tee shot on 17 to birdie and take a one-shot lead. On the 18th, he made an incredible 65-foot putt for birdie to card a two-over 72 and win the U.S. Open ahead of Robert MacIntyre.
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When discussing his victory, Spaun revealed Woods was surprisingly key to his mentality and comeback. He credited Homa with telling the tale as the pair had lunch, and Spaun used Woods’ own advice to fight back and win the U.S. Open in dramatic fashion.
“I just felt like you keep putting yourself in these positions, like eventually you’re going to tick one off,” Spaun said. “I don’t put myself in this position often, or at all, for a major, that’s for sure. This is only my second U.S. Open. But all the close calls that I’ve had on the PGA Tour this year has just been really good experience to just never, never give up.
“Actually, I was thinking about- I was having lunch with Max Homa at home. We live in the same area. We belong at the same club. He was telling a Tiger story where he was like, ‘As long as you just are still there, you don’t have to do anything crazy, especially at a U.S. Open.’
“He’s like, ‘Tiger said this would happen, and the wind will switch, but you’ve got to just stay there. Even if you’re four back, you’ve just got to stay there. You don’t have to do anything crazy.’
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J.J. Spaun won his first major championship in style, fighting back in a memorable Oakmont finish(Image: Getty Images)
“I kind of was thinking about that out there this afternoon, where I was four back, maybe going back out after the delay, and then I made some good pars, nothing crazy. Got a really good birdie.
“Then, next thing you know, I’m like tied for the lead, I think, and within four holes of the restart.
“That just kind of goes back to that, like you just try to stay there. You don’t have to do anything crazy, especially at a U.S. Open. All those things came true.”
Spaun sunk the longest putt of the U.S. Open to win the championship, and embraced his two daughters — one of whom was sick — and wife Melody as the family celebrated on the 18th green on Fathers Day. When asked if he felt like the luckiest man in the world given the last few days, Spaun smiled before referencing Woods one final time.
“100 percent, at least in my mind,” the 2025 U.S. Open champion declared. “Just to finish it off like that is just a dream.
“You watch other people do it. 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.”
