J.J. Spaun is preparing to defend his U.S. Open title this week at Shinnecock Hills, a year after capturing the major championship with a dramatic finish at Oakmont. The 35-year-old Californian first gained widespread attention during the 2025 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, where he narrowly lost to Rory McIlroy in a Monday playoff. Three months later, Spaun secured the largest victory of his career by holing a 64-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win the U.S. Open, one of golf’s most demanding tournaments.

Spaun’s win at Oakmont granted him automatic entry into all major championships and the PGA Tour’s signature events, as well as a spot on the Ryder Cup team. The victory marked a turning point in his career, elevating him from a relatively unknown competitor on tour to a player facing heightened expectations.

“I’d never really cracked the top 50 in the world before [the Players runner-up finish],” Spaun said. “Then to be in top 10 fields the whole second half of last year and coming into this year ... it just felt like I couldn’t hide anymore. I had to be that guy that was meant to show up every week. It’s an adjustment.”

Spaun acknowledged the pressure that comes with newfound status as a major champion, emphasizing that he draws confidence from past experiences in high-stakes situations. “Pressure is a privilege. I heard those words a lot during the Ryder Cup. I go back to those past experiences — teeing off on the first hole of the Ryder Cup, playing down the stretch at the U.S. Open. Those are monumental pressure situations that I performed in.”

In April, Spaun added to his resume by winning the Valero Texas Open, a victory he described as validation for his U.S. Open success and Ryder Cup appearance. Despite this, he missed the cut at the Masters and PGA Championship earlier this year, attributing those struggles largely to difficulties with his putting.

The memorable 64-foot birdie putt that clinched his U.S. Open victory remains a defining moment for Spaun, who has watched the shot an estimated 20 to 25 times. “When I meet people in everyday life, that putt is all they bring up,” he said, embracing the attention. “It’s strange to think this was a moment in U.S. Open history that I’ve written, in a sense.”

Spaun recalled overcoming a difficult start on the final day at Oakmont, where a weather delay paused play after he bogeyed four of his first five holes. Upon resumption, he rallied to play the last 12 holes three under par, setting the stage for his winning putt.

The golfer described the celebration after sinking the putt as surreal, highlighting the emotional impact of reuniting with his family amid the rain-soaked scene. “It was like a mystical scene with the delays and all that. It seemed like a perfect story ... a perfect ending to the week.”

Now, as Spaun returns to the venue to defend his title, he aims to replicate that performance and continue his ascent within the sport’s elite ranks.