SI

2025 U.S. Open Round 4 Winners and Losers: J.J. Spaun Closes In Style as the Final Pairing Falters

J.J. Spaun buried a 64-foot putt on the final hole to seal the win at Oakmont. But several players had a chance over the closing holes, and they will have their regrets.

Jeff Ritter, John Schwarb

Spaun reacts after canning the clinching putt.
Spaun reacts after canning the clinching putt. / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

OAKMONT, Pa. — The 125th U.S. Open is complete, with J.J Spaun the champion at a score of 281, 1 under par. We call ’em like we see ’em around here. They are:

2025 U.S. Open Day 4 Winners

J.J. Spaun: With just one PGA Tour title entering this week his collar had to tighten on Sunday after a front-nine 40 nearly took him out of the tournament. But he battled through the rain for a back-nine 32, and canned the longest putt made by anyone in the field all week to close it. 

Robert MacIntyre: The Scotsman shot 33 in Scottish-like weather on the back nine to post 1 over and hang out as the clubhouse leader until Spaun came in. Has the look of a player who will win a major soon.

USGA: Oakmont delivered the hype, and the Sunday setup was diabolical but also allowed for back-nine pyrotechnics. Can’t wait to return in 2033.

Rory McIlroy: He was never in it this week and his snippy media interviews made headlines, but on Sunday he shot a 67 for low round of the day and spoke with the media afterward. Hey, it’s a start. 

2025 U.S. Open Day 4 Losers

Adam Scott: The Aussie turns 45 next month, who knows if he’ll get another major opportunity like he had Sunday and shooting 9 over in the final round is going to sting for a long time. 

Sam Burns: The 54-leader looked the part of a U.S. Open champion for three days and change. But he was unable to hold it together in the rain on Sunday. A tough ruling on 15 dashed his fleeting hopes. This one will hurt. 

Viktor Hovland: He fought gamely all afternoon but just couldn’t buy a putt when he needed one. It’s getting lonely on the Best Player Without a Major List and he’s still firmly planted on it. 

Scottie Scheffler: This won’t be remembered as “one that got away” for the No. 1 player in the world. But he will rue numerous missed putts inside 6 feet this week. Through it all he still had a puncher’s chance late into Sunday, but couldn’t connect on the closing holes to put any pressure on the leaders.

USGA: The org had a nice week overall but video evidence of the Sam Burns ruling on 15 certainly makes it appear like the player got a raw deal, which you never want to see in the closing holes of a major. 

Published |Modified
Jeff Ritter
JEFF RITTER

Jeff Ritter is the managing director of SI Golf. He has more than 20 years of sports media experience, and previously was the general manager at the Morning Read, where he led that business's growth and joined SI as part of an acquisition in 2022. Earlier in his career he spent more than a decade at SI and Golf Magazine, and his journalism awards include a MIN Magazine Award and an Edward R. Murrow Award for sports reporting. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a master's from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

John Schwarb
JOHN SCHWARB

John Schwarb is a senior editor for Sports Illustrated covering golf. Prior to joining SI in March 2022, he worked for ESPN.com, PGATour.com, Tampa Bay Times and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He is the author of The Little 500: The Story of the World's Greatest College Weekend. A member of the Golf Writers Association of America, Schwarb has a bachelor's in journalism from Indiana University.

Home/Golf