
Don't count Hatton out…
Spaun surged back after heavy rain delayed play in the final round at Oakmont Country Club, with four birdies on the back nine to win his first major. Getty Images
J.J. Spaun has won the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club with a thrilling late rally.
Spaun, who led after a bogey-free first round, stormed back after play resumed following a weather delay Sunday. Birdies on the 12th, 14th and 17th, then a miraculous long birdie putt on the 18th, sealed his win by two strokes.
This is Spaun's first major championship win. He was the only golfer to finish under-par through 72 holes, with Robert MacIntyre claiming second at 1-over.
GO FURTHER
J.J. Spaun wins wild, wet U.S. Open with dramatic birdie putt finish Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Associated Press
Tyrrell Hatton may be three back with 10 to go, but he's risen up to a 9 percent chance of winning this thing. Maybe most importantly, he's the only player near the top of the leaderboard gaining strokes in both approach and off the tee so far today, per DataGolf . And he's not just positive. He's gaining +2.78 strokes tee to green on the field Sunday. For the week, he's gaining 2.97.
So, sure, deep down I think it's between Sam Burns and Adam Scott and will be one of them — but you really should be keeping an eye on Hatton. Associated Press
The weather conditions are starting to improve in terms of electricity and showers, per a USGA Rules Official on the NBC broadcast.
But no word yet on the resumption time of the final round. Getty Images
Perusing DataGolf.com as we wait this out — Sam Burns has a 46.6 percent chance of winning right now, followed by Adam Scott's 27.7 percent.
More interesting to me is the probability of the winning score: 2-under : 19.8 percent
: 19.8 percent 1-under : 26.2 percent
: 26.2 percent Even par : 22.6 percent
: 22.6 percent 1-over: 11 percent The Athletic
This weather delay is the perfect time to get involved with our coverage.
Who do you think is going to win the 2025 U.S. Open? Are we going to be able to finish this thing up today? And have you enjoyed watching the last four rounds at Oakmont, or was the course just too difficult to make for truly exciting viewing?
Let us know by emailing live@theathletic.com.
The top contenders were already struggling enough — Sam Burns, Adam Scott and Viktor Hovland have all lost two strokes, and J.J. Spaun five — and now the conditions are going to add another element to the equation once play does resume. Who can be a mudder?
Even if the rain holds up enough to allow them to get back on the course, it's probably not done falling. So who can manage their equipment and just stay present enough to focus on the next shot over everything else?
If I had to guess, it's Tyrrell Hatton, who is tied-third at 1-over-par, three shots behind Burns. Hatton is, he'll admit, almost always miserable anyways. What's being wet on top of that? Getty Images
The good news is that, according to AccuWeather , the current downpour at Oakmont should stop within a matter of minutes. Then it will be a matter of ensuring there are no lightning strikes in the area and determining when the greens will be safe to play.
The bad news is that rainy conditions are expected to continue throughout the afternoon and worsen in the evening, when thunderstorms and a 64 percent chance of rain are forecast for the 8 p.m. hour.
It may come down to the wire to see whether the U.S. Open can complete its final round on schedule today before the worst of the storm hits around sundown.
Sky Sports in the UK are reporting the weather delay is currently expected to last for somewhere around 45 minutes. Getty Images
Despite drifting down the leaderboard early in the round, both Viktor Hovland and J.J. Spaun are within arms reach of the lead here at Oakmont.
Spaun earned a par on the 8th, remaining +2 overall and +5 on the day. He bogeyed five of his first six holes. Hovland will be coming off a bogey on the 8th, his third of the round. He sits at +2 for the round and +1 overall.
These two will resume play on the 467-yard, par-4 9th, featuring a relatively straight fairway proteced by various bunkers. Associated Press
Adam Scott and Sam Burns were standing on the eighth tee as the rain began pelting down at Oakmont. They didn't even tee off at the lengthy par-3 before the horn blew, stopping play due to a weather delay.
When the round resumes, the final group has a 301-yard par-3 to come back to. A tough restart, isn't it? Associated Press
We are officially in a weather delay.
This is not just about the rain. There is electricity in the area. The players are going to be evacuated.
There's a lot of standing water on the course… Getty Images
Moments before play was suspended, the right bunker welcomed Viktor Hovland to the par-3 8th.
He recovered with a nice shot out, which landed within 10 feet for par. The par putt drifted left and he tapped in for bogey, dropping to +1 overall.
J.J Spaun's tee shot found the green but he was left looking at 61 feet for birdie. He left it a couple feet right of the hole but cleaned up for a par to remain at +2. Getty Images
Bad news, folks.
Play has been suspended at the 2025 U.S. Open due to adverse weather conditions. Getty Images
There's already standing water on the greens, and the heavy stuff might not come down for a while…
Those are two solid pars for Sam Burns and Adam Scott. The Aussie nearly sank a mammoth 52-foot birdie putt, leaving it inches short of the pin.
The American missed the 35 footer for birdie before making par. Burns leads by one over Scott heading to the lengthy par-3 eighth. Getty Images
Rainfall is picking up by the minute here at Oakmont. From a sprinkle to a drizzle to now a heavy patter atop the media center roof, which is next to 18 fairway.
The only bright spot to this development is it's forced Viktor Hovland into a rain jacket and we're longer having to watch him walk around in three different shades of blue between pants, belt and polo. Getty Images
A tidy two-putt from Tyrrell Hatton on eight to remain within three strokes of the leader, Sam Burns. The Englishman is scrapping hard.
Hatton has improved both his score (73, 70, 68) and greens in regulation (12, 14, 15) each day so far this week. He's very much in this thing. Getty Images
A birdie would have been big for J.J. Spaun there, instead he has to settle for a par. After a nice approach shot, he had a 28-foot look for birdie but couldn't convert despite a great roll.
Viktor Hovland met a similar fate, leaving a 27-foot birdie putt within two feet and tapping in a par. Getty Images
That's a sloppy bogey for Adam Scott on the par-3 sixth. He three putted from 37 feet on the green, recording his third bogey of the final round.
With Sam Burns' par, the American retains his solo lead at 2 under. The Aussie falls to 1 under.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBS News
22 minutes ago
- CBS News
Wisconsin and NIL collective sue Miami, allege tampering and NIL inducements to land football player
The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective VC Connect filed a joint lawsuit on Friday against the University of Miami, alleging it knowingly induced one of the Badgers' football players to abandon a lucrative name, image and likeness contract to play for the Florida this upcoming season. Allegations of tampering rarely get to this level and the 23-page lawsuit, which was filed in state court in Wisconsin and obtained by The Associated Press, is unusual. Depending on its resolution, it could have a a wider impact on future NIL deals across college athletics. The player in question in the filing is referred to only as "Student-Athlete A." But the case summary describes facts that line up with the situation involving cornerback Xavier Lucas, who last December announced his plans to enter the transfer portal. Shortly afterward, Darren Heitner, who has been representing Lucas, indicated that Wisconsin was refusing to put Lucas' name in the portal and that it was hindering his ability to talk with other schools. In January, Heitner announced that Lucas would be playing for Miami this fall. The situation is fallout from the rapid changes engulfing college athletics, specifically a combination of two things: Athletes went to court and won the ability to transfer with much more freedom and the 2021 NCAA decision clearing the way for them to strike NIL endorsement deals now worth millions of dollars. That has changed the recruiting landscape and forced the issue of contracts and signed commitments to the fore. "Indeed, student-athletes' newfound NIL rights will be rendered meaningless if third parties are allowed to induce student-athletes to abandon their contractual commitments," a portion of the lawsuit reads. Miami and Lucas were in talks before transfer decision, Wisconsin says Wisconsin said in January that it had credible information that Miami and Lucas made impermissible contact with each other before the former Badgers cornerback decided to transfer. Wisconsin and VC Connect allege that the inducement for Lucas to attend Miami happened within days of him entering his NIL agreement to play for the Badgers, and that they incurred substantial monetary and reputational harm. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and "a declaration that Miami's conduct directed towards Student-Athlete A constituted tampering." A message left with the University of Miami seeking comment was not immediately returned. In a text message Friday, Heitner declined to comment on the lawsuit but he said that Lucas still plans to attend Miami and play football. Wisconsin said it had the support of its leadership and the Big Ten Conference in filing the lawsuit, noting its commitment to "ensuring integrity and fundamental fairness in the evolving landscape of college athletics." "While we reluctantly bring this case, we stand by our position that respecting and enforcing contractual obligations is essential to maintaining a level playing field," the statement said. "In addition to our legal action, we will continue to be proactive to protect the interests of our student-athletes, our program and the broader collegiate athletics community. Lucas, who is from Pompano Beach, Florida, had 12 tackles, an interception and a sack as a freshman for Wisconsin last season. Heitner said that Lucas hasn't received any money from Wisconsin and therefore owes no money to the school. Heitner also argued that Wisconsin had violated an NCAA bylaw by not entering Lucas into the transfer database within two business days of the player's request. Wisconsin issued a statement at the time saying it hadn't put Lucas' name in the portal because he had entered a two-year binding NIL agreement. In April, the surprise transfers of brothers Nico and Madden Iamaleava from Tennessee to UCLA prompted fresh questions about contracts and buyouts. Nico Iamaleava, who led Tennessee to the College Football Playoff last season, walked away from a reported $2.4 million NIL contract. Arkansas freshman quarterback Madden Iamaleava entered the portal after spring practices wrapped up. Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek released a statement indicating he would support efforts by the Razorbacks' NIL collective to enforce buyout clauses in athlete contracts. Iamaleava reportedly had a contract valued at $500,000 upon signing with Arkansas.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Opens Up on Calf Injury Before NBA Finals Game 7
Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Opens Up on Calf Injury Before NBA Finals Game 7 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton entered the team's first elimination game of these NBA Finals at home at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as a great question mark. He had injured his calf in Game 5, and did not look healthy in closing out that game, walking with a notable limp. Advertisement The question going into the win-or-go-home Game 6 for Indiana was two-fold: Would Haliburton play, and if so, would he be effective? We learned early on Thursday that the intention was that Haliburton would be on the floor. And we learned early in the game that he would, indeed, be effective. Haliburton led the Pacers to a laugher in the game, a 108-91 win that will now send the series to a Game 7 finale. Haliburton had 14 points and five assists, but was a plus-25 on the floor, as his presence was what really mattered for Indiana. After the game, he explained what went into him playing in Game 6--and what he'll carry into Game 7, injury-wise. Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) in the first quarter during game six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images "I just look at it as I want to be out there to compete with my brothers. These are guys that I'm willing to go to war with and we've had such a special year, and we have a special bond as a group, and you know, I think I'd beat myself up if I didn't give it a chance," he said. Advertisement "I just want to be out there and fight and just had to have an honest conversation with coach (Rick Carlisle) that, you know, if I didn't look like myself and was hurting the team, like sit me down. Obviously, I want to be on the floor. But I want to win more than anything. So had an honest conversation with coach. But yeah, I want to be on the floor, and if I have the ability to, if I can -- like I said, if I can walk, I want to be out there." He will get one more chance to be out there for the Pacers. That will come Sunday in Oklahoma City for the finale. He said he knows the key for the Pacers will be putting Game 6 behind them and moving on. "Celebrate this one tonight and move on. It's done with. We did our job to take care of home court, and we have to be ready to compete in Game 7," he said. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Celtics Make 'No-Brainer' Payton Pritchard Announcement on Friday
Celtics Make 'No-Brainer' Payton Pritchard Announcement on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. While the Boston Celtics fell short of their championship aspirations in 2024-25, the team had some notable bright spots shine throughout this past year's NBA campaign. Advertisement Fifth-year Celtics guard Payton Pritchard put together the best season of his young NBA career, averaging a career-high 14.3 points on 47.2% shooting from the field and 40.7% shooting from behind the three-point arc. Pritchard accomplished these impressive statistics through 77 games off the bench in 2024-25. As such, he was recognized with the NBA's coveted Sixth Man of the Year trophy earlier this year. Unsurprisingly, Pritchard was also recognized as the Celtics' Sixth Man of the Year winner in an announcement on Friday. "The biggest no-brainer of our Awards Series: our Sixth Man of the Year," the team wrote on X. This Sixth Man of the Year trophy marks Pritchard's second honor of the Celtics' postseason award series. The former No. 26 pick was also recognized as the team's Most Improved Player. Advertisement The Celtics still have one more postseason award to announce: the Sharpshooter of the Year. Pritchard is certainly a candidate for this award as well as he boasted the team's best three-point percentage of any player averaging at least one attempt per game. Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11).Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images The Celtics' 2024-25 season came to an end with a second-round playoff loss the the New York Knicks. In Game 4, Boston superstar Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles tendon tear. With Tatum out for the majority of the 2025-26 season, Pritchard will likely serve an even more integral role in the Celtics' upcoming NBA campaign. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.