US Open 2025 Nervous energy fuels Spaun's bogey-free feat

J.J. Spaun could not escape the talk about how punishing a set-up Oakmont Country Club is, and while that left him plenty nervous, the unheralded American felt the threat of danger at every turn helped power him to the first-round US Open lead on June 12.

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OAKMONT - J.J. Spaun could not escape the talk about how punishing a set-up Oakmont Country Club is, and while that left him plenty nervous, the unheralded American felt the threat of danger at every turn helped power him to the first-round US Open lead on June 12.

Spaun, whose lone win on the PGA Tour came in 2022, did not just outplay the game's biggest stars in the opening round of the year's third Major but also carded only the eighth bogey-free round in a US Open at Oakmont.

While big names like Scottie Scheffler (73), Bryson DeChambeau (73), and Rory McIlroy (74) all struggled, Spaun signed off for a four-under 66 that left him with a one-shot lead over South African Thriston Lawrence.

"I was actually pretty nervous," said Spaun, who finished runner-up to McIlroy at the Players Championship in March.