June 12, 2025 – Oakmont, PA – American veteran J.J. Spaun, 34, surged to an early clubhouse lead in the opening round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, firing a flawless 4-under 66—a bogey-free effort that ties the lowest first-round score in U.S. Open history at this notoriously tough venue.
Spaun’s front-nine blitz included birdies on four holes and he closed with composure, highlighting a season marked by consistent top finishes, including two runner-up results and a third-place on the PGA Tour.
Spaun’s Stellar Round
- Bogey-free 66: Tied for the best opening round at Oakmont; only the eighth bogey-free round there in U.S. Open history.
- Back-nine dominance: Four birdies on the way out, featuring key putts and clutch play.
- Season trajectory: Riding momentum from strong form—26th in world ranking, sixth in FedEx Cup points, and 13th in Ryder Cup standings.
McIlroy Echoes Oakmont’s Brutality
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy began well—with birdies on holes 11 and 12 thanks to a 27-foot putt and a massive 392-yard drive—but faltered down the stretch. He stumbled over his final stretch, bogeying four of his last six holes and finishing with a 4-over 74, severely undermining his early surge .
McIlroy, who recently bounced back from lackluster form post-Masters, admitted the need to recalibrate for Oakmont’s punishing layout.
DeChambeau’s Uneven Start and Rule Snag
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau had a rollercoaster round, opening with two birdies and two bogeys to sit even through nine, before bogeying the 12th and finishing +1 for the round (73).
A sideline incident on hole 4—where DeChambeau misplaced his ball post-relief and failed to drop it correctly—prompted a swift ruling from a USGA official, though he escaped any penalty.
Course Brutality & Other Contenders
Oakmont’s severe setup—tight fairways, fast greens, thick rough—has produced a punishing scoring average of around +4.78, with only a handful under-par.
Other names in contention include:
- Gary Woodland, one stroke behind Spaun through eight holes.
- Si Woo Kim, Ben Griffin, and Thomas Detry, all in a logjam tied for third at around 2-under.
- World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, yet to tee off at the time of reporting, begins his challenge later in the day.
Summary Table
| Player | Round 1 Score | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| J.J. Spaun | 66 (-4) | Bogey-free, clubhouse leader, under-par rare at Oakmont |
| Rory McIlroy | 74 (+4) | Promising start, late collapse, needs reset |
| Bryson DeChambeau | 73 (+1) | Rollercoaster round, avoided penalty after rules issue |
| Others | -2 to EV | Several under-par rounds despite punishing conditions |
What’s Next
- Spaun holds a clubhouse advantage—pressure now builds on later groups.
- McIlroy must regroup, avoid late-round mistakes if he’s to ascend.
- DeChambeau aims to find form early and capitalize on championship defense.
- Course chief challenge: Oakmont continues to test every facet of players’ games.
In the ruthless backdrop of Oakmont, Spaun’s flawless start stands out, while McIlroy and DeChambeau fight to avoid early damage. As the championship unfolds, surviving the course will be just the beginning.
