J.J. Spaun took the spotlight during the opening round of the 2025 U.S. Open, shooting a remarkable 31 on his first nine holes at Oakmont Country Club. That dazzling beginning helped launch him to an eventual, bogey-free 66, good enough to put him atop the leaderboard. As the tournament progresses, Spaun’s play makes you wonder what he can do to stand up to such a stacked field and continue his momentum.
On the other end of the emotional spectrum, Brooks Koepka has been struggling with doubts about his prospects in major championships. After having experienced some changes on his equipment front, that was the first time Koepka had put a new shaft in. Today, he must stare down questions over whether he can return to the top of his game again. And finally, world No. 1 Jon Rahm put on a show in his opening round. With tremendous artistry and grit, he established himself as a serious threat.
J.J. Spaun’s Historic Start
J.J. Spaun during his historic first nine holes at Oakmont. In doing so, he nailed an imperious score of 31, writing himself into the record books and ensuring that his day started on a winning note. His truly fantastic round gave him the opportunity to take advantage of the difficult course setup that other players struggled with. His crisp ball-striking was a theme all day, resulting in a bogey-free performance of 6-under 66.
This emphatic early round advantage makes Spaun a serious threat to win the whole thing. Golf fans and pundits are all a-titter. They’re looking to find out if he can continue this level of extremely high play as the rounds progress. Now, Spaun is brimming with positivity. We’re excited to see where he goes from here, and how he’ll respond to the much-compressed, granite-edged challenges of the U.S. Open.
Spaun’s performance, while impressive in its own right, served as a reminder of just how unpredictable the game can be at this level. As he moves into the second round, there will be a close eye on him. Will he put on another magical show and stake his claim to be among the top tier of contenders?
Challenges for Major Contenders
Even as Spaun was flourishing, some other big names have struggled mightily in the first round. Brooks Koepka, a four-time major champion, struggled with his performance and began to question whether his days of contending at majors had come to an end. Koepka’s recent tinkering on equipment to try and get a spark back into his game has yielded poor results thus far.
Even with these disappointments, Koepka is still focused on positive outcomes. The mental and physical demands of competing at this level demand not just the craft itself, but mental toughness and poise. As he prepares for that final round, Koepka looks to rediscover that magical moment. That spark has been the secret ingredient to his storied career.
Beyond Koepka’s woes, many of the game’s biggest stars had a long, hard day. Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau both finished their rounds at 3 over par, while Rory McIlroy ended at 4 over. It wouldn’t get any better for Patrick Cantlay and Justin Thomas, either, as both ended up carding 6 over par. In each case these are scores only belied by the cutthroat rivalry that all major tournaments take on.
Jon Rahm’s Consistent Excellence
Jon Rahm, the world’s top-ranked player, reminded everyone of just how good he is in the opening round. second place by four strokes after a stunning round of 69. This will be Rahm’s sixth straight U.S. Open. His first round, as he’s made a habit of doing starting in the 60s, is a testament to his greatness in major championships.
He got off to a big start with an eagle on the par-5 fourth hole. A flurry of birdies fueled his record-setting round. Rahm exhibited his long, booming driving prowess by gaining nearly 3.55 strokes off the tee. On the tough course setup, his strategic play was on full display.
With the tournament deep into match play, Rahm is still one of the favorites to hoist the trophy at the end. His experience and skill set gives him an edge for success in a dramatically deep talent pool, teeming with both youthful upstarts as well as learned-savvy veterans. He’s preparing now for that second round, and all eyes will be on how he plans to tackle Oakmont’s demanding course. Fans question whether he will capitalize on the rare windows opened up by his opponents.
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