Spaun's 'Crazy Moment'

Journeyman, who thought of quitting, sinks 64ft birdie putt to land shock Major

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OAKMONT - During a less-than-fruitful 2024 season, J.J. Spaun wondered if he should quit if he failed to keep his PGA Tour card. He could have called it quits on June 15 when he bogeyed five of his first six holes in the US Open final round, dropping behind several more accomplished golfers on the leaderboard before a 96-minute weather delay.

In both cases, Spaun rejected the idea of quitting. Then, amid a Pittsburgh summer storm, came the lightning strike. Spaun sank an improbable 64-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole to cap his stunning first Major victory, emerging from the pack in the wild, waterlogged concluding day at Oakmont Country Club.

Viktor Hovland said Spaun's putt at No. 18 was "just absolutely filthy." Spaun had to agree.

"You watch other people do it," Spaun said. "You see the Tiger (Woods) chip, you see Nick Taylor's putt (at the 2023 Canadian Open), 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."