J.J. Spaun started the 2025 U.S. Open in style on Thursday morning. He nearly blew up the entire championship by firing a blistering record-breaking 31 on his very first nine holes! He rounded it all out with a great, bogey-free 66 to take early control atop the leaderboard. Brooks Koepka lurked just behind him, starting the tournament with a brilliant 67. At the same time, Jon Rahm came home in style, with his 69 finishing off a terrific run. The opening round at Oakmont was a staggering exhibition of golf talent. Despite its inspiring possibilities, the course presented serious challenges for all parties.
In hindsight, the course conditions at Oakmont would prove to be a major factor in determining the day’s results on the first day. The longest par-4 hole, the 463-yard ninth, turned out to be the toughest, with an average of 4.54. Conversely, the par-5 fourth and the shortest par-4 at 327 yards, the 17th, were the only holes with average scores below par. Indeed, just nine players were able to shoot under par over four grueling days, a testament to the course’s challenging character.
J.J. Spaun Shines with Record 31
J.J. Spaun’s stellar opening round was a testament to his elite talent and poise in the heat of the moment. With 31 on the front nine, he established a new course record. That’s no small accomplishment. With this remarkable feat, he adds a crowning career accomplishment.
Spaun’s capacity to maneuver through the perilous course with never a stumble emphasized his shrewd, deliberative approach, and self-belief. His exceptional, bogey-free round has placed him squarely in the mix as one of the championship’s best names in contention as things progress.
“I played some incredible golf to shoot 1-under, which we don’t usually say, right?” – Jon Rahm
Now that Spaun is out in front, his challengers will have to raise their level of play in the rounds to come. As he looks to Day 2, all eyes will be on him to see if he can keep this momentum going.
Notable Performances and Struggles
Name recognition didn’t help these stars, as they struggled mightily during their rounds. Brooks Koepka, a favorite of many to contend, carded a respectable 67, but admitted he was going to have to play better.
“It’s still not as firm as a typical U.S. Open probably is,” – Brooks Koepka
Jon Rahm provided the high-water mark on the week, having a monster performance of 3.55 SG: OTT. He ended in style with a very respectable 69. He made an eagle on a par-5 fourth hole. Then he closed with back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th, flashing his killer instinct and opportunism.
Even given their reputations, the other pre-tournament favorites played poorly. Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau all faltered spectacularly on the course. Their scores hovered between 3-over and frankly 9-over, with potential upset winner Shane Lowry struggling as well, even with the highlight of an eagle hole-in-one on the third hole.
Course Conditions Impacting Play
The state of play at Oakmont has elicited mixed responses from players. A few had the humility to admit that some holes were shorter with good conditions in the morning.
“Some of those holes were playing a little shorter,” – Jon Rahm
As players such as Patrick Reed implied, that wouldn’t hold for the entire tournament.
“Even though the wind was kind of switching around… guys were spinning balls back up the hills on 1 and 10. That’s never going to happen again.” – Patrick Reed
As players adapt to the unpredictable nature of the changing course, it’ll be all the more important for them to play smart. The creative challenges of Oakmont are guaranteed to dazzle fans as they prepare for more action in what has been an incredible championship.
Looking Ahead
With Spaun leading after Round 1 and only nine players under par, anticipation builds for how the remaining rounds will unfold. The competition is going to be intense! Players such as Koepka and Rahm would have little interest in letting the gap widen and would look to severely threaten and challenge Spaun’s lead.
Mark Schlabach predicted Koepka would contend strongly in this tournament, while Paolo Uggetti highlighted Rahm as a potential champion seeking his second U.S. Open title.
With Day 2 just ahead, fans and players are looking forward to where these stories go as they play out over Oakmont’s brutal terrain.
Leave a Reply