JJ Spaun’s defense of his US Open title was hindered by challenging windy conditions at Shinnecock Hills during the tournament’s recent round. The 35-year-old American encountered particular difficulty on the exposed par-three seventh hole, where a strong gust diverted his tee shot. Although his ball initially landed on the front left edge of the sloping green, the wind carried it down the hill into a bunker before Spaun reached the spot.

Despite this unusual setback, Spaun managed to recover by getting up and down for a par on the hole. Known for his clutch performance last year when he birdied the final two holes at Oakmont to narrowly defeat Scotland’s Bob McIntyre, Spaun faced sustained wind gusts reaching up to 35 miles per hour throughout the round. The blustery conditions contributed to a challenging front nine that left him five over par after 11 holes.

Spaun steadied his play in the middle portion of his round but was undone by a double bogey on the closing hole, ultimately posting a 77, seven over par, for the day. The difficulties on the seventh hole echoed past turbulence at Shinnecock Hills, which hosted an infamous US Open in 2004. During that event, strong winds and dry conditions made the green so unplayable that balls struggled to stay on the surface. That year, USGA officials were compelled to intervene and manually water the green to preserve its condition in the final round.

This year’s conditions once again spotlighted how the exposed layout at Shinnecock Hills can amplify the impact of adverse weather on player performance. Spaun’s experience highlighted the unpredictable challenges that wind can pose, even for the tournament’s defending champion.