J.J. Spaun comes from nowhere to win US Open as Adam Scott fades away

A wild final round at the US Open reached its climax as JJ Spaun sunk a clutch putt to claim his first ever major, with Adam Scott’s hopes going up in flames.

World number 25 J.J. Spaun drained the longest putt of the week to birdie the 18th and win a wild US Open by two shots over Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, while Aussie hero Adam Scott faded in the final round to finish in a tie for 12th.

Spaun held the lead at times during the third round, but seemed out of contention after shooting five bogeys in the first six holes of the final round.

As the brutally tough Oakmont course was made even harder by near constant rain and a 90 minute delay due to dangerous weather, Spaun made four birdies on the back nine to claim an unlikely major win.

Needing just a two-putt on 18 to secure victory, Spaun holed a 64-foot monster in torrential rain to take an emotional win.

Meanwhile Scott, playing with overnight leader Sam Burns in the final round, couldn’t handle the wet conditions and finished nine over par for the day and +6 for the tournament.

Scott was attempting to break the record for the longest gap between first and second majors, 12 years after his Masters win, but the wait continues.

Scott didn’t do much wrong on the front nine in horrendous conditions, but will rue a misfiring driver, while his iron play was slightly off on approach.

The 44-year-old putted remarkably well, but was too often left with tough 30 or 40 footers to score.

Scott hit four bogeys and a birdie on a rollercoaster front nine as dark rain clouds hovered over the course all day.

JJ Spaun wins US Open

In his scintillating third round, he made back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14, but came unstuck on the par four 14th in the final round.

The former world number one hit his tee shot into a bunker, miscued his chip out and did well just to card a bogey five.

The horror hole was the beginning of the end.

Scott bogeyed four of the final five holes, including a double on 16 for a disappointing end.

At the top of the leaderboard though, Spaun had never previously recorded a top 20 at a major and had even considered quitting the sport last year.

Even midway through the manic fourth round, he seemed out of the running after shooting 40 on the front nine.

Adam Scott faded away across the back nine. Picture: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

But as the lead chopped and changed in the final two hours, Spaun found some form, and finished well, becoming the only player to finish the championship under par.

At one point, Spaun was in a five-way tie for first before emerging from the field down the stretch.

Only seven players in the entire field shot below par in the fourth round, with MacIntyre’s -2 propelling him into second spot.

Viktor Hovland (+2) finished third, with Cameron Young, Hatton and Carlos Ortiz tied for fourth at +3.

Jason Day shot a final round three over par to finish in a tie for 23rd, with fellow Aussies Marc Leishman (+11) tied for 38th and Cam Davis (+22) in 64th.

Re-live the final round of the 125th US Open in our blog below.

Originally published as J.J. Spaun comes from nowhere to win US Open as Adam Scott fades away