OAKMONT, Pa. — J.J. Spaun stunned the golf world Thursday, carding a bogey-free 4-under 66 to take the first-round lead at the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. The 34-year-old Los Angeles native, ranked 25th in the world, navigated the notoriously brutal course with precision, posting four birdies and 10 straight pars to finish two shots ahead of the field. His back-nine score of 31 set a U.S. Open record for Oakmont’s inward nine.
Spaun, who has one PGA Tour win at the 2022 Valero Texas Open, capitalized on early momentum with a 20-foot chip-in birdie on the 10th hole. Birdies followed on the par-5 12th, the 222-yard par-3 16th, and the 17th, showcasing his deft short game and putting. He gained nearly four strokes on the field with his putter, a career-best performance inside 12 feet, he said after the round.
Despite Spaun’s brilliance, his lead sparked backlash on social media. Many fans on X expressed frustration, arguing Oakmont’s reputation as one of golf’s toughest tests should not yield to a player perceived as a journeyman.
Posts criticized the course setup, with one user joking the greens’ stimpmeter “better be 22 tomorrow” to restore difficulty. Another lamented Spaun’s “playground” performance, insisting the U.S. Open should humble even top players. Over 100 posts echoed this sentiment, reflecting fans’ expectations for “carnage” at Oakmont for J.J. Spaun.
Spaun, undeterred, faces a tougher test as conditions are expected to firm up. With Scottie Scheffler and others lurking, his lead is precarious. Yet, for one day, Spaun tamed golf’s toughest stage, etching his name in Oakmont’s storied history.
