J.J. Spaun added supreme clarity to one of the most uncertain U.S. Opens by making a 64-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win the 125th edition.
It was his first PGA Tour title, a major championship.
It was also a surprise finish to a surreal day, in which Spaun began the final round with five bogeys over his first six holes at Oakmont Country Club.
Following a 96-minute weather suspension, Spaun returned and proved to be the steadiest in the field. His mundane march back up the leaderboard turned pyrotechnic when he drove the green at the 314-yard, par-4 17th and two-putted from 18 feet for birdie and the lead.
He then split the fairway on the par-4 18th but hit his approach shot 64 feet, 5 inches from the hole. After playing competitor Viktor Hovland putted on a similar line, Spaun rolled his perfectly into the hole for victory — the longest putt made by anyone in the field all week.
Spaun, who lost to Rory McIlroy in a playoff at this year’s Players Championship, finished two shots clear of Robert MacIntyre, who posted 68 and watched to see if there would be a Monday playoff.
Unlike at The Players, there would not.
This story will be updated.
Read the full article here