JJ Spaun Delivers One of Golf’s Greatest Clutch Putts Ever to Win U.S. Open With 64-Foot Bomb at Oakmont

In a moment that will live in golf history forever, JJ Spaun produced one of the greatest clutch performances the sport has ever seen. With everything on the line at the fabled Oakmont Country Club, Spaun rolled in an impossible 64-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to capture the U.S. Open in jaw-dropping fashion. It was the kind of drama only the U.S. Open can deliver, but even by those lofty standards, this finish was nothing short of miraculous.

The California native, who had been lurking near the top of the leaderboard all week, came into Sunday knowing he needed something special to fend off a relentless chase pack that included major winners, Ryder Cup stars, and hungry contenders. And he delivered it—on the most iconic stage American golf has to offer, under the most crushing pressure imaginable.

Oakmont, known for its punishing rough, lightning-fast greens, and no-nonsense character, had already claimed dozens of contenders by the time Spaun stepped to the final hole. He had battled his way through 17 brutal holes on Sunday with grit and quiet precision. But it was the 18th—one of the most treacherous closing holes in golf—where he etched his name into legend.

Spaun found the fairway off the tee but left his approach shot long and left, leaving him a near-impossible putt from 64 feet away with several feet of left-to-right break, multiple tiers to navigate, and a surface running faster than most PGA Tour players are used to. Standing over the ball, Spaun showed no signs of nerves. He stepped in, took a smooth stroke, and sent the ball on its long journey.

From the moment the ball left his putter, the gallery buzzed. It started right, tracked left, kissed the ridge perfectly, and began breaking back toward the hole. For several seconds, the gallery’s murmur grew louder, and by the time it was halfway there, fans around the 18th green were on their feet. As the ball curled in from the left edge and dropped into the cup, a deafening roar erupted from the Pennsylvania hills.

JJ Spaun had just authored one of the most iconic putts in the 124-year history of the U.S. Open.

He raised both arms into the air in disbelief, eyes wide, mouth agape, then bent over as if trying to process what he had just done. His caddie sprinted to embrace him. The moment was electric, cinematic, and historic all at once.

With that putt, Spaun carded a final-round 68, finishing at 3-under par for the tournament—just enough to hold off a surging Viktor Hovland and steady Xander Schauffele, who both finished at 2-under. Schauffele had a birdie opportunity on 18 but left it inches short. Hovland, too, had a chance but couldn’t convert on the slippery back-nine greens.

For Spaun, the victory represents not just a career-defining moment, but a powerful narrative of perseverance. A late bloomer in professional golf, Spaun turned pro in 2012 but didn’t earn full-time PGA Tour status until 2017. He battled injuries, form slumps, and the harsh volatility that defines life on the fringes of elite golf. It wasn’t until his breakthrough win at the Valero Texas Open in 2022 that he finally secured his first PGA Tour title. That day proved he belonged. But this? This was a coronation.

The U.S. Open win is his second career title and easily his most significant. It vaults him into a new category of respect among his peers and locks up his place in the game’s history books. He’ll be invited to every major championship for the next five years, gains a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour, and joins a club whose membership includes the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Ben Hogan.

But beyond the accolades, what will be remembered most is the putt.

“It was the biggest moment of my life,” Spaun said afterward. “When I saw it tracking, I just thought, ‘No way.’ But it had perfect pace. It was dead center. I can’t even describe the feeling. I’ve dreamed of winning the U.S. Open, but not like this. Not with a 64-footer. That’s storybook.”

Golf fans and analysts quickly took to social media to label the putt among the greatest ever. Comparisons were made to Tiger Woods’ chip-in at Augusta in 2005, Jack Nicklaus’ birdie putt at Pebble Beach in 1972, and Payne Stewart’s iconic fist-pump on the 18th at Pinehurst in 1999.

“I’ve covered this game for 40 years,” said veteran broadcaster Jim Nantz. “And I can say without hesitation—that was the greatest closing putt I have ever seen at a U.S. Open.”

In the locker room afterward, Spaun was swarmed by fellow players, many of whom couldn’t hide their awe.

“It was nuts,” said Max Homa. “We were all watching. Everyone was screaming when it dropped. Just unreal. That’s what dreams are made of.”

For the USGA, it was another chapter in the storied legacy of Oakmont, a venue that has now hosted 10 U.S. Opens. Known for its brutal tests and dramatic conclusions, Oakmont has seen it all—Johnny Miller’s 63, Angel Cabrera’s clutch finish, and now, JJ Spaun’s walk-off dagger.

Beyond the highlight-reel moment, Spaun’s performance all week was a study in steadiness and patience. While others faltered under Oakmont’s stern test, Spaun remained composed, hitting fairways, limiting mistakes, and capitalizing when chances arose. He led the field in strokes gained putting, ranked third in scrambling, and managed to avoid the big numbers that derailed so many of his more heralded counterparts.

The leaderboard was packed with storylines all Sunday. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler never found his rhythm, shooting a final-round 74 to finish outside the top 10. Rory McIlroy had another promising week undone by a few costly misses on the back nine. And defending champion Wyndham Clark missed the cut entirely after a tough two days.

But none of it mattered once Spaun’s putt dropped. In that moment, the story was his—and his alone.

He’ll now enter a new phase of his career with major expectations. Winning the U.S. Open is transformative, and Spaun now faces the challenge of living up to the legacy that comes with that victory. But for now, the golf world is content to celebrate a moment that felt both impossible and perfectly fitting for a tournament known for its brutal challenges and epic resolutions.

Fans who witnessed it, either on-site or watching around the world, will never forget where they were when it happened. Spaun’s 64-foot putt wasn’t just a winning stroke—it was a bolt of magic, an emphatic declaration of belief and skill under the most intense pressure imaginable.

For JJ Spaun, it was the pinnacle. For golf, it was history. And for Oakmont, it was yet another legendary moment added to an already epic lore.

As the sun dipped below the Pennsylvania horizon and Spaun lifted the U.S. Open trophy high above his head, one thought echoed through the game:

That. Was. Unbelievable.