PITTSBURGH — With one pulsating 64-foot birdie putt at the final hole, J.J. Spaun took what had been a lackluster U.S. Open devoid of star power and turned it into the most thrilling and captivating ending in Oakmont's storied championship history.

Make no mistake, this was different than what the U.S. Open authored just a year ago — a ...Read more

Quite likely you hadn’t heard of J.J. Spaun before his come-out-of-nowhere-and-behind heroics Sunday to win the U.S. Open.

But I’ll tell you this: Everyone who happened to be near a San Dimas High School golfer — past or present — on Sunday likely heard about what Spaun did.

Because the Saints have known about Spaun for years, and they...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Oakmont Country Club is advertised as one of the toughest golf courses in the United States.

The U.S. Open is advertised as the ultimate test for professional golfers.

That’s what made this U.S. Open such an easy fit and a perfect match, as it brought some of the best golfers in the world to their knees. It was won by a ...Read more

OAKMONT, Pa. — Through it all, looming large and nasty and insurmountable, there was the golf course.

Oakmont Country Club hosted its record 10th U.S. Open. As ever, it did not disappoint.

This is the place that, in 1962, gave the first of Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 major wins, and, 11 years later, Johnny Miller’s record 63 to win on ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — There were some ghosts of collapses past going on during the final round at Oakmont Country Club, though it was difficult to distinguish who was being spooked the most.

Sam Burns, the 54-hole leader, got water-logged after a 96-minute weather delay. Adam Scott, trying to set a record for elapsed time between a first and second ...Read more

In addition to his well-earned winnings, the USGA should give J.J. Spaun a massive bonus.

Spaun’s green-mile winning putt to win the U.S. Open on the 18th green at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania on Sunday instantly became the only moment anyone will remember from this tournament.

Because it was the only moment worth remembering.

The ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — J.J. Spaun bounced back from a horrid start and watched while others fell apart in the rain to win the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club for his first major title.

A one-time winner on the PGA Tour, Spaun emerged from a five-way tie on the back nine with birdies on the final two holes to finish at 1-under 279, good for a ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Like Sisyphus with his boulder, Oakmont grounds crew members squeegeed water off the fairway on Hole 8 as the rain kept falling on Oakmont Country Club.

Only two more players needed to tackle the longest par 3 in U.S. Open history after a 96-minute weather delay in the final round Sunday afternoon — the last pairing of Sam ...Read more

OAKMONT, Pa. — The daily drama of Rory McIlroy — Will he talk today? Will he not? — was energy wasted Sunday. McIlroy didn’t boycott the press as he’d done after six of his last seven rounds at major championships, the most prominent battle in the surreal press-vs.-player war being waged on the PGA Tour.

Of course, it probably didn’...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Somewhere around 4 o’clock Saturday, as the final groups teed off during the third round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, we officially reached peak Pittsburgh. Congratulations.

On the walkway between the ninth and 10th fairways, I heard someone scream for Bob Nutting to sell the Pirates. Meanwhile, we had two ...Read more

OAKMONT, Pa. — In February of 2021, Tiger Woods rolled an SUV over a median, down an embankment and into a gully. He nearly killed himself, and, at 46, with a history of other major injuries, he effectively killed his career.

In February of 2022, Phil Mickelson telegraphed his defection to the emerging LIV Tour when controversial comments ...Read more

PITTSBURGH —Rory McIlroy is supposed to be the face of golf.

The unofficial spokesman of the PGA Tour.

The great ambassador to the sport’s fans.

He has taken on that role and embraced it for years.

Suddenly, though, he has forgotten all that and has become one of the most insufferable players on the tour.

And it isn’t just about him ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller — two guys who know a thing or two about what it takes to win a U.S. Open at Oakmont.

A bunch of golfers have said a bunch of words the past few days at Oakmont Country Club.

Few — if any — carry the same weight as those delivered by Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller on Saturday for Day 3 of ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — It’s hard enough to reach the greens at Oakmont Country Club.

Players must navigate narrow fairways surrounded by thick rough and punishing bunkers.

They then must land approach shots not just on the green, but in particular parts of it, to have any hope of their ball staying on the putting surface.

Players have described the...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Sam Burns began his day with the third-lowest round ever shot in a U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. He spent the rest of the day watching players slide down the leaderboard as though it were greased with cooking oil.

After 36 grueling holes that continue to try the patience of the best two players in the world, only three ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — There aren’t many big names at or even near the top of the leaderboard at the U.S. Open after two rounds, and there is a number of the bigger names who didn’t even survive the cut.

Some people love the underdog stories. Some want star power. And if you are one that is looking for star power, this has certainly not been the U....Read more

PITTSBURGH — Sam Burns was playing the round of his life. The kind golfers prefer not get interrupted — think of the Bishop in “Caddyshack” who was struck by lightning because he refused to pause his best day ever on the course.

So he could have been forgiven if he paid no attention to the commotion behind him on the eighth tee. After ...Read more