Ryder Cup newcomer and 2025 U.S. Open Champion JJ Spaun has revealed that his unique choice of golf ball led to him being sidelined during the foursome sessions.
Spaun, who managed to secure two points for the United States in their defeat to Europe at Bethpage Black in New York, was excluded from alternate shots due to his use of a Srixon ball.
Despite being the only American player to use this particular ball at this Ryder Cup, Spaun shared similar preferences with Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka. The Titleist, unsurprisingly, remained the most popular choice among players, with over half opting to tee off with it.
According to Spaun’s friend and professional golfer Colt Knost, Spaun was aware he would be left out of the alternate shots. Knost, who turned pro in 2007 and has participated in 199 PGA Tour events, shared some insights on the Straight Facts Homie podcast.
Knost said, “I play golf with J.J. a lot here at home in Scottsdale. We were playing together Thursday before he left and he shot 60 on me, by the way. So he looked in pretty good form.”
He continued, “I said, ‘any idea, off the record, who you going to go with?’ He’s like, ‘I know I’m not playing alternate shot’. I said, ‘what?’ And he said, ‘yeah, part of it, I’m the only one who plays a Srixon golf ball.'”
Knost expressed surprise at this, stating, “I looked at him like, you’re, in my opinion, a top three ball striker on that team, and alternate shot’s all about giving yourself chances for birdie. He’s a great driver of the ball, he’s a great iron player. He’s also a great putter as we’ve seen. He’s really good.”
Spaun nailed a 64-foot putt to claim the trophy at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont and beat Straka in Sunday singles two and one.
“I get it, he’s a rookie, so sit him out on Friday morning. But when the deficit happened, and him and Scottie played pretty good Friday afternoon, they just got beat, they were nine under, the other team was 11 under, I couldn’t believe that he wasn’t thrown out there Saturday morning,” Knost added.
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“We saw Cam Young, that wasn’t in the plan. But they moved him up there with Bryson.”
Young also made his Ryder Cup debut in 2025 and secured three points for the Americans. He and Justin Thomas overcame Rasmus Højgaard and Ludvig Aberg in the Friday afternoon session, while he also went on to triumph over Justin Rose in Sunday singles.
