Bogey, bogey, bogey, par, bogey, bogey. It’s a helluva way to start the most important of your life.
—
J.J.SpauncelebrateswiththetrophyafterwinningtheU.S.OpengolftournamentatOakmontCountryClubSunday,June15,2025,inOakmont,Pa.(APPhoto/SethWenig)–SethWenig/APBogey,bogey,bogey,par,bogey,bogey.It’sahelluvawaytostartthemostimportantroundofyourlife.
InthespanofabouttwohoursonSunday,J.J.Spaunlookedlikeagolferincompletefreefall.ItlookedlikethemagictouchfromhisfirstthreeroundsatOakmontCountryClubhadcompletelyabandonedhim.Onthesecondhole,itappearedasthoughthecrowdwaswatchingthegolfgodsforsakehiminrealtimewhenhisapproachshotbouncedonce,hittheflagstickandthenrolled50yardsawayfromthecup.
“Ihititperfect,anditwasrightatit.Itwasjustamatterofwasittheperfectdistanceornot?”hesaid.“AllIheardisareallyloud,‘Oh!’Itwasn’tagoodone.…Itwasjustreallyunlucky.Itwasprettymuchatwo-shotswing.Iwasthinkingthatwouldhavebeenprettyclose,maybeinsideoffivefeet,ifitdidn’thittheflag.”
Thatstartonthecoursewasemble
