There’s something sacred about Oakmont. You can feel it in the turf, hear it in the gallery murmurs, and see it in the eyes of every competitor who walks that first tee knowing they’re about to face one of the most demanding tests in golf. As a proud Pittsburgher and the longtime publisher of Golfer’s Lifestyle Magazine, I’ve had the privilege of covering some of the sport’s most memorable moments, but this week at the 125th U.S. Open may top them all.
It was a championship week packed with suspense, weather delays, wild momentum swings, a historic finish, and yes, a few moments that reminded us how pressure doesn’t just reveal character, it can also expose the lack of it.
J.J. Spaun’s performance will go down as one of the great comebacks in Oakmont lore. His week began with a dazzling, bogey-free 66 and ended with a fairytale, capped off by a 64-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win his first major championship. It was the longest putt made all week and the most dramatic finish this course has seen in its 10 U.S. Opens.
On the second hole Sunday, Spaun looked poised for his first birdie of the day, until the golf gods intervened. His brilliant approach struck the flagstick flush, then cruelly ricocheted off and rolled all the way off the green and back into the fairway. What could have been a three or four foot birdie putt turned into a frustrating bogey. From there, things didn’t get much easier. He bogeyed five of his first six holes, and most champions would have spiraled.
But Spaun didn’t flinch. After a mid-round weather delay, he regrouped, and even changed his clothes (yes, really). What followed was a gritty, inspired finish with four birdies over his final six holes, including a clutch birdie-birdie close that echoed Ben Hogan’s legendary finish in 1953.
Spaun’s name now joins the likes of Ernie Els, Angel Cabrera, and Dustin Johnson as first-time major champions crowned at Oakmont. In an era defined by power hitters and household names, it was a quiet grinder who reminded us that golf still rewards resilience, and sometimes, it’s the journeymen who write the most memorable chapters.
Of course, Spaun’s triumph was amplified by others faltering around him. Sam Burns, the 54-hole leader, unraveled with a final-round 78, losing his rhythm after a 96-minute storm delay. Adam Scott looked poised to add a second major to his resume but faded down the stretch with six dropped shots over his last 11 holes.
Robert MacIntyre, the Scottish lefty with ice in his veins, posted the round of the day with a 2-under 68 and waited patiently in the clubhouse. He came heartbreakingly close to history, nearly becoming the first left-hander to win a U.S. Open. But Oakmont still draws that line in the sand: no southpaw has ever conquered it.
Still, it was nice to see MacIntyre’s genuine reaction when Spaun drained that killer putt on 18, a moment of pure sportsmanship. His runner-up finish now places him alongside Phil Mickelson and Brian Harman in U.S. Open lefty lore, and his poise throughout the week deserves every bit of recognition.
Oakmont brought the best of our city to the global stage. The volunteers, nearly 4,500 strong, made the event hum with precision and pride. The galleries, knowledgeable, respectful, passionate, and once again proved why Pittsburgh is one of the greatest sports towns in the country. And the course? Even after 13 inches of rain over the previous month, Oakmont held its teeth. The greens were pure. The rough was punishing. The challenge was real. No course humbles players quite like this one.
And yet, not everything about the week was worthy of applause.
As a fan and media member who has always respected Rory McIlroy’s talent and presence, I had hoped this week would be one of redemption for him, not in terms of trophies, but in terms of character. Unfortunately, it was anything but.
His club throw on No. 12? Disappointing. Destroying the left tee marker on No. 17? Unacceptable. But what sealed it for me was his dismissive and entitled tone during his Saturday interview. When asked about skipping media duties, Rory replied: “I feel like I’ve earned the right to do whatever I want to do, yeah.”
Wait, what?
This isn’t just about a quote. It’s about a tone, a posture, a choice to disconnect from the very fans and traditions that helped lift him to stardom. And if that wasn’t enough, when asked about his expectations for the final round, his reply? “Hopefully a round in under four and a half hours and get out of here.”
Well, Rory, from this former fan: don’t let the door hit you on the way out of Pittsburgh. You didn’t lose the tournament. You lost some of the respect from those of us who have cheered you on for years.
He wasn’t alone in his missteps. Shane Lowry, typically one of golf’s more affable figures, made headlines for forgetting to mark his ball on the 14th green. Mistakes happen. But his expletive-laced frustration, “F** this place” after missing a short putt on the 4th? That’s not Oakmont’s fault, Shane. That’s yours.
And then there’s Wyndham Clark, who reportedly destroyed not one, but two lockers at Oakmont. Whether it was frustration or fury, that’s not just unprofessional, it’s unacceptable.
In 25 years of covering golf, this was one of the most complete, complex, and compelling weeks I’ve ever experienced. Oakmont was brutal and beautiful. Spaun was brave and brilliant. And a few others were, frankly, embarrassing.
But that’s golf. That’s humanity under pressure.
This wasn’t just a championship, it was a storybook. One written in rain, resolved in the sunlight, and delivered with drama. From the volunteers to the grounds crew, from the underdog winner to the passionate fans in the grandstands, Western Pennsylvania once again reminded the world how we do things here.
See you at the next one. Until then, Oakmont’s legend will continue to grow.
