Latest news with #Spaun
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Health
- USA Today
U.S. Open winner J.J. Spaun's health issues posed greater threat than Oakmont
U.S. Open winner J.J. Spaun's health issues posed greater threat than Oakmont As soon as J.J. Spaun won the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont on Sunday, Andy Bessette fired off an email to Spaun to congratulate him. 'For a man with Type 1 diabetes to win the U.S. Open with four days of pressure – pressure is the enemy of Type I diabetes – I said with your burden there is nothing more amazing than you winning the U.S. Open,' said Bessette, executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Travelers and a hammer thrower on the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team. 'To me, it's one of the greatest accomplishments in sports given the burden he lives with.' In the fall of 2018, Spaun was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. 'I wasn't feeling great, so I knew something was up,' he said Wednesday during his press conference ahead of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut. The 34-year-old started taking medicine for Type 2 but still felt lethargic, kept losing weight and, most concerning, losing distance. By mid-2021 his ranking dipped to No. 584 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Before COVID canceled the 2020 Players Championship, Bessette was chatting with pro Harold Varner III, who expressed his concern that his pal Spaun was struggling with diabetes. Bessette's son, Chris, had been diagnosed with Type I diabetes at age 18, and Bessette was familiar with the disease – the beta cells in the pancreas stop working and produce zero insulin. Spaun goes into insulin shock if he doesn't control his insulin levels. Varner called Spaun via FaceTime to connect him with Bessette, who listened to his list of symptoms. 'I said, 'Are you sure you have Type 2?' You should get yourself checked by a good endocrinologist to make sure,' Bessette recalled advising. He made some calls on Spaun's behalf to the CEO of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (since renamed Breakthrough T1D), which funds research for the development of new therapies and treatments for type 1 diabetes. Spaun eventually discovered he was misdiagnosed. 'I just was kind of going through the whole learning experience of what diabetes is and how to treat it and how to approach this disease,' Spaun said. He has been approved by the Tour to wear a Libre blood-sugar monitor and check his levels while competing. If his blood sugar is low, he can faint. If it gets too high, his vision starts to blur. Later that year at the Travelers Championship, Spaun wedged to 19 inches in a closest-to-the-pin contest at the red floating umbrella in the middle of a lake dubbed hole No. 15 ½ at TPC River Highlands. As the winner, Spaun could donate $10,000 to the charity of his choice. He chose JDRF. Bessette was touched by Spaun's gesture and personally matched the donation. 'So that initiated our connection,' Spaun said. 'He's kind of been there for me the whole way, where if it was doctors I needed to get in touch with or CEOs of JDRF, it's been nice to have that connection and his network to kind of help me along this journey because I had just been diagnosed with it, but diagnosed incorrectly. Even when I got my diagnosis corrected, I guess, it was even more so helpful to have JDRF and Andy on my side to kind of help me navigate another new territory.' Bessette was moved again Sunday when Spaun achieved a career-defining moment at Oakmont – Type I Diabetes be damned. 'It changed his life,' Bessette said of being diagnosed correctly. 'It's a brutal disease.'
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
JJ Spaun Shares Dodgers Star Who Reached Out amid U.S. Open Win
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The popularity of golf among celebrities is booming more than ever, as evidenced not only by Pro-Am events. Celebrities swing clubs whenever they have the opportunity, but they also follow professional events with the same enthusiasm as any other fan. Another example of this was the numerous calls and messages from celebrities that JJ Spaun received after winning the U.S. Open. During his pre-Travelers Championship press conference, Spaun revealed some of the stars who reached out to congratulate him on his victory at Oakmont: "I heard from George Lopez, comedian and actor from Los Angeles; [Los Angeles Dodgers star] Mookie Betts, who was actually my Pro-Am partner at Pebble Beach; [renowned sportscaster] Scott Van Pelt; a lot of people." "I'm still like halfway through my messages. [1988 and 1989 US Open winner] Curtis Strange, [1974, 1979 and 1990 US Open winner] Hale Irwin, just some great champions that have been there and know what it's like, people that I have never even talked to, but it was great." J. J. Spaun of the United States kisses the trophy after winning the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 15, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. J. J. Spaun of the United States kisses the trophy after winning the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 15, 2025 in Oakmont, also shared some details about the days after his win at Oakmont, which turned out to be quite a rollercoaster: "We were off to New York City. Had a nice dinner with my family on Monday night. We went to do all the media 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning." "It was literally nonstop. Didn't finish until 3:30, 4:00, hopped in a car, got driven up here. That was about 3 1/2 hours. Didn't walk through the front door of the hotel until 8:00 p.m." JJ Spaun won the U.S. Open with a score of 1-under, becoming the only player in the field to finish with a 72-hole score of par or better. His final-round performance was spectacular, as he birdied the final two holes to take a lead that proved to be definitive. To top it off, he sank a 64-foot putt on the 18th hole to secure his victory. With this victory, Spaun became the first PGA Tour Americas alum to win the US Open. The victory propelled him to the eighth spot in the world rankings and to the third spot in the rankings to make the Ryder Cup team. More Golf: Paige Spiranac Has Hilarious Request of New PGA Tour CEO
Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Scottie Scheffler Reveals JJ Spaun's Biggest Test at Travelers Championship
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler knows all too well what it's like to return to work after winning a major championship. Having done so three times during his career, it's only natural that he has some advice for a first-time major winner like JJ Spaun. According to Scheffler, there's one thing Spaun should prepare for in particular: the attention he'll receive from now on. "I think after winning a major championship, like the first time you come back out to the course is a bit of a circus sometimes just with all the people," Scheffler said. "JJ just achieved kind of a lifetime goal and dream of his. It's definitely different coming to the golf course for sure." "There's a lot more people, a lot more stuff to sign, a lot of stuff that goes on." Scottie Scheffler of the United States plays his shot from the 17th tee during the final round of the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 15, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. Scottie Scheffler of the United States plays his shot from the 17th tee during the final round of the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 15, 2025 in Oakmont, also emphasized the learning curve that comes with winning a tournament like the U.S. Open the way Spaun did. "Having that experience under your belt of winning the tournament, that's the most pressure he's felt in his entire career, and he stepped up and made amazing shots down the stretch, birdieing 17 and 18." "Having that confidence and experience going forward is going to serve him really well, not only knowing he can perform under the biggest pressure, but now he knows exactly what it feels like." J.J. Spaun is in the Travelers Championship field, just one week after winning the U.S. Open. Scheffler knows this feeling all too well. In fact, the world's top-ranked golfer has done the same thing two out of three times he has won a major championship. A warm welcome for @JJSpaun in Connecticut ❤️ — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 18, 2025 Not only that, but the Ridgewood, New Jersey native has also earned a win and a fourth-place finish the week after winning a major championship. He won the 2024 RBC Heritage a week after winning the Masters Tournament, and tied fourth in the 2025 Charles Schwab Challenge a week after winning the PGA Championship. Spaun has played at TPC River Highlands six times, when the Travelers Championship wasn't yet a Signature Event. He missed the cut three times, and his best finish was tied for 30th in 2019. However, the circumstances are completely different now. Following an opening round 3-over 73, Spaun is near the bottom of the field. If he wants to make any noise, he'll need to go low Friday. More Golf: Tiger Woods Breaks Silence on New PGA Tour CEO
Newsweek
a day ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
JJ Spaun to be 'Heartbeat' of Team USA at Ryder Cup, per Keegan Bradley
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. There are still 100 days until the Ryder Cup, but conversations about both teams are becoming more and more frequent. It's no surprise that captains are being asked about it at every opportunity, as happened with Keegan Bradley ahead of the Travelers Championship. For now, only Scottie Scheffler is a lock to make the American Ryder Cup team. However, Bradley has already practically confirmed another name on the roster: JJ Spaun. Keegan Bradley of the United States walks off the fifth tee during the final round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday 2025 at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 01, 2025 in Dublin, Ohio.... Keegan Bradley of the United States walks off the fifth tee during the final round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday 2025 at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 01, 2025 in Dublin, Ohio. MoreAlthough the captain didn't say it was a done deal, his words leave little room for doubt: "I think he [Spaun] is a guy that people at Bethpage will really resonate with and a guy that on our team is the heartbeat," Bradley said. "He's now the U.S. Open champion. That's a heavy burden to bear, but that's also a great thing to have on your team." "I'm really proud to have him on this team because it's really difficult to make your first team. To go out there the way he did this year and play in these big events this well is a testament to what a player he is." Spaun's US Open victory propelled him to third in the rankings to make the American Ryder Cup team. Given the remaining schedule, Spaun has a very high chance of finishing in the top six and directly qualifying for the team. However, based on Bradley's comments, if Spaun doesn't finish in the top six, it's safe to say that his selection as a free pick is a sure thing. Keegan Bradley: "I think going to a course like Bethpage Black, the people are really going to be behind a guy like J.J. Spaun." — Underdog Golf (@UnderdogGolf) June 18, 2025 Bradley offered several reasons for his current opinion of JJ Spaun: "He's played so great this year. I think going to a course like Bethpage Black, the people are really going to be behind a guy like J.J. Spaun." "His story is incredible. He's a hard working guy that's just building and building and building his whole career." "To win the U.S. Open at Oakmont, in my eyes, is the pinnacle of major golf. It's as tough as you can get." Spaun began the 2025 season ranked 115th in the Official World Golf Ranking, but has seen a meteoric rise, thanks primarily to his second-place finish at The Players Championship (losing in a playoff to Rory McIlroy) and his victory at the US Open. These results are complemented by three other top-10 finishes, including another second place (Cognizant Classic). Such performances have catapulted him to No. 8 in the world. More Golf: Paige Spiranac's 'Niche' Gets Nod of Approval from Annika Sorenstam
Hypebeast
a day ago
- Sport
- Hypebeast
JJ Spaun's U.S. Open Win Was Years in the Making
It's hard to overstate just how muchJJ Spaun's career was hanging by a thread. Especially since, for many people who aren't tuned into golf on a molecular level, the new U.S. Open champion's emergence seems like it happened overnight. But the truth is, Spaun's career has been on a steady, if quiet, upward trajectory for several years. The public is finally catching up. Born in Los Angeles to Filipino and Mexican parents, Spaun's rise is a classic slow burn. He turned pro in 2012 after a standout collegiate career at San Diego State, but his route to thePGA TOURwas anything but linear. He spent years grinding on mini-tours and the Canadian circuit before earning his (now Korn Ferry) Tour card. Even after breaking through to the PGA TOUR in 2017, Spaun struggled with injuries and inconsistency, including a stretch where he had to fight just to keep his card. He's the kind of player who's had to prove himself at every level, not with sponsor's exemptions, but with results. It all appeared to be building toward something bigger when Spaun put himself in contention at the 2025PLAYERS Championship. The 34-year-old held a one-stroke lead after 54 holes, but stumbled early in the final round and eventually found himself in a playoff with none other thanRory McIlroy. Forced to return the next day due to weather delays, the duel ended in heartbreak:Spaun found the water on the iconic island green 17th and McIlroy closed the door. It's the type of moment that could haunt a player. But Spaun didn't view it as a collapse. He saw it as validation, proof that his game belonged with the best. Three months later, that belief turned into reality. At the 2025U.S. Openat Oakmont Country Club, one of the most punishing setups in major championship golf, Spaun delivered three near spotless rounds on a course that demanded precision on every single swing. Starting the final round, he wobbled and found himself on the wrong end of the stick, including a shot that caromed off the flagstick and all the way off the green. But he stayed patient as others the time he reached the 72nd hole he had a lead to protect, and a 64-foot birdie putt punctuated the victory. He walked off the green not just as a major champion, but as one of the most unlikely and hard-earned success stories in recent memory. You've had a lot of interviews, a lot of media requests in the last 48 hours. Can you give us an idea of what it's been like since that final putt dropped, and what kind of headspace you're in right now? Yeah, it's been pretty wild. Just even being able to process what I accomplished has been a lot. You kind of jump straight into the gauntlet, the formalities of winning, the trophy ceremony. Next thing you know, you're not leaving the club until 1AM after a small celebration, signing autographs, doing all that good stuff. Then I had to fly to New York City in the morning. I only got about three hours of sleep on Sunday night because I got in late and just couldn't sleep. I woke up at 6AM and decided to start my day. The adrenaline hadn't really worn off yet. Today's been a little better. It's started to sink in more, especially doing all these interviews and media requests. I'm starting to really feel it, that I'm the U.S. Open champ. Hearing it so much, watching replays, and having to articulate it has helped me wrap my head around it. So yeah it's been a crazy 36, almost 48 hours, but it's been awesome. A dream come true. I'm so, so happy to be the U.S. Open champ. Talking through it, doing these interviews, is that giving you a chance to reflect on what went right and how things unfolded? Oh yeah, totally. It's been such a blur. At first, I could only really remember the last couple holes. But answering questions, even about the start of the week or my mindset going into Sunday, has brought it all back. It's helped me wrap my head around everything and acknowledge the full picture. It's been a good way to soak it in. How does that compare to a typical round, in terms of what you're able to remember and how you break down your game? Tee shots, approaches, that kind of thing. The difference between a normal round and what happened this weekend is that I remember more how I felt, emotionally and physically. The nerves, the anxiety, the comfort level on certain shots. During a regular Thursday or Friday round on tour, you're just in the routine. Nothing major on the line. But this was the U.S. Open. I could totally feel and remember what I was going through mentally and physically the other day. 'Whatever adversity came my way, I stayed resilient…You never know what's ahead.' How did you handle that stress compared to The PLAYERS Championship? Do you feel like you improved mentally? Honestly, I thought I handled The PLAYERS really well, and I tried to emulate that same approach. I went in with the mindset that I had nothing to lose. I was just going to put together the best score I could with no pressure or expectations. That's exactly how I approached the U.S. Open. I remember saying that after my first round on Thursday, it became my mantra for the week. I didn't try to change anything from The PLAYERS. That experience validated that I could do it. Even though I didn't win there, it gave me the confidence that carried me through the U.S. Open. What's been the most surprising thing since the win? Any unexpected messages or moments? Hearing from so many people has been amazing. I don't know if this was surprising, but one of the coolest moments was realizing I'm probably locked in for theRyder Cup, fingers crossed. But in terms of surprises, Curtis Strange reached out. He's a two-time back-to-back U.S. Open champion. That meant a lot. Also, walking around New York City with the trophy was surreal. Getting recognized on the street, doing the media tour. It's been crazy. What else is planned in New York for this media tour? Any morning shows or late-night appearances? We knocked most of that out this morning. I started at 6:30 AM withThe Today Show. Then I did CNBC, ABC,Access Hollywood,The Pat McAfee Show, Rich Eisen andSportsCenter. It was a wild day. A lot of talking, especially about myself, which I'm not really used to. How do you feel about that? Are you someone who's comfortable talking about yourself? Not really. I've gotten better at it because I know it's part of my duty to the media. I try to be transparent and available. But if someone sends me a clip of myself on a podcast or interview, I won't watch it. I get a little cringey watching myself on TV. So yeah, it's a bit uncomfortable, but I try to do my best. We saw a clip of you skateboarding floating around on Instagram. Looked like something you posted a while ago. Are you still into skating? I don't skate nearly as much as I used to. I grew up in Southern California, and that was the cool thing to do, everyone skated. It was my first passion. I skated a lot growing up, and I was pretty decent, though not good enough to get a sponsorship or turn pro. During COVID, I think I posted a clip, sort of an ice bucket challenge thing, where I did a trick and challenged friends to post their own versions. I still like having fun with it, but I don't do anything crazy anymore. Falling at 34 isn't the same as falling at 14, so I try to limit my time on the board. Is it funny to see people digging through your old Instagram posts now? Yeah, it's weird. I think people are just curious. They want to get to know me, see where I came from. I'm just glad there's nothing too embarrassing or immature on there. The internet never forgets. But if people get a laugh or feel inspired, I'm all for it. Reflecting on your journey, after everything you've been through with injuries and keeping your card, is there anything you'd tell your younger self now? I'd tell my past self to just keep plugging away. I've always had a chip on my shoulder. I wasn't heavily recruited out of high school, probably because I didn't play enough events to get noticed. But I've always had to prove myself, whether in junior golf, college or professionally. Whatever adversity came my way, I stayed resilient. That's what I'd tell myself: keep pushing. You never know what's ahead. And finally, winning on Father's Day is such a special thing. What was it like having your family there, and how do they help keep you grounded? My wife and our two girls, we're our own little unit. We do everything together. They travel with me most weeks, and they give me balance. Golf can really consume you, especially at majors like the U.S. Open. It's easy to get stuck in your own head. Having them on the road means I can leave golf at the course. When I get back, I'm just Dad playing with the kids, dealing with dad duties. I'm not sitting there dwelling on shooting 72 or making a double bogey. They keep me grounded by just being with me, doing our thing.
