The leaderboard on Sunday morning for the final round of the 125th U.S. Open felt... underwhelming. No marquee names, fan favorites, or likely heroes were anywhere in sight. Any claim to the contrary likely came from someone managing a Fantasy team. Analysts must have proclaimed a dozen times, “the winner is Oakmont.” But as we know "this wasn't a storybook finish — storybooks only wish they could be this good." So here are but a few of the plot points and characters that need a nod and are worth remembering.
Carnage and catastrophe
Oakmont Country Club is widely considered one of the most difficult golf courses in the world, and for good reason. In addition to lightning fast greens, brutal rough, and narrow fairways, it has deep and steep bunkers (surrounded by that 5" rough) and plays to a par 70, at just over 7,300 yards. Physically and mentally it is relentless. "The Best of the East" rewards patience, precision, and discipline—and punishes everything else. And if you caught the final round, that is precisely what you saw.
Rarely have I seen such carnage and catastrophe. One player after another couldn't get out of the bunker. Balls that should have been a "green in regulation" stayed for seconds before rolling off and into more rough. Players missed routine putts. Every golfer I know has experienced this level of frustration—it's just rare to see it from so many in the field.
But a few were able to keep their composure. The struggle was so real. In the same way we rubberneck—availing our eyes to carnage—it was hard to turn away from the TV. Maybe you didn't have the stomach to take it all in, but for those who stayed, they know: the story doesn't end in defeat. From the catastrophe emerged a new champion: J. J. Spaun.
An Unsuspecting Hero
Before the 2025 U.S. Open, Spaun’s résumé included four pro wins—across developmental and professional tours—and one PGA Tour victory. His rise from walk‑on college player to major champion is the stuff of great stories. But if I were to tell you the winner "bogeyed five of the first six holes—carding a 40 (+4) on the front-nine of the final round," you would say that is a tall tale. It's not.
With four birdies on the back nine, Spaun carded a 72 (+2 over par) and was the only player in the tournament to finish under par—with a total score of 279 (one under par). To me, this is where the story gets interesting.
A Win of Biblical Proportions
Spaun sealed the win with an incredible 64-foot putt on the 18th hole. Yes, he got a good read from Viktor Hoveland; it was quite an exclamation putt, I might point. However, he might not have been put in that position were it not for a 96-minute rain delay. As written on the TODAY show website,
Spaun says the rain delay proved to be a game changer.
“Actually, it was a gift from God, honestly,” he said June 17 on TODAY, noting that his caddie's father died a year ago on Father's Day.
He also recalled having to sit through a delay after getting off to a bad start while leading on Sunday at the 2025 Players Championship, only to do better and make a playoff once play resumed.
Spaun said he and his caddie, Mark Carens, knew the delay at the Open would help them out.
“When that horn blew on the ninth tee, we looked at each other and said, ‘This is exactly what we needed.’ So we went back in, reset and (I) came back out a different man,” he said.
Carens then came out to explain what happened during the rain delay.
“He changed clothes, he changed everything,” he said.
If I were only reading and teaching this story, I’d likely focus on its symbolism—how a forced delay can serve as a form of purification, and how the act of shedding the old makes space for something new to emerge. While the Bible doesn’t mention “rain delays” in a literal or casual sense, it does feature weather-related interruptions and divine uses of rain that alter human plans and timelines. The most well-known example, of course, is Noah’s 40 days and 40 nights—a delay of transformative proportions. But sports fans need not go that far back to find that example.
The 2016 Chicago Cubs all cite the 17 minute rain delay in Game 7 of the World Series as to why they beat the Cleveland Indians. Cubs outfielder, Jason Heyward gave a “beautiful” speech, which preceded an open discussion. As written in Rain delay for the ages becomes part of Cubs’ lore, “We all had heart to hearts, we all felt we had to say things that were on our minds and get them off our chest,” Russell said. “We reached new levels when you talk about that stuff. Grown men talking about that stuff, it doesn’t matter. The fact that we did it here in the World Series.” That break from the heavy skies ended a 108 year drought for Cubs fans. A championship had returned to Wrigley field anew.
I Never Want the Story to End.
A great match or contest doesn't end. How? Why? It leaves us with so much to reflect upon and remember. I found myself analyzing, revisiting and reconnecting events of the day. I was able to watch the match with my Dad on Father's Day. We have talked about what we witnessed—together—in the days thereafter.
There are stories within the story (J.J. Spaun going to CVS at 3:30 a.m. for his daughter), wrongs that can't be made right (the ruling on Sam Burns who was asking for relief from his ball in standing water) and connections that need to be made (what other rain delays have occurred in sports history?!).
As Jay Busbee of Yahoo Sports writes
This was the right stroke, in the right tournament, at the right time, for the right player. This was one of those why-we-watch moments, a triumph in the evening fog, a victory for the little guy in a sport increasingly tilted against the little guys. This wasn't a storybook finish — storybooks only wish they could be this good.
Thank you to the players, the USGA and Oakmont Country Club who made the 125th US Open brutal and beautiful. What a great story....!
Photo Credits
TODAY Show: Trophy
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