PGA: U.S. Open - Final Round
Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The 125th U.S. Open tournament finished Sunday as J.J. Spaun claimed his first major championship at Oakmont Country Club. Ultimately, the challenge of the final round was on display as no players were even par or better by the time the final group got a couple holes past the turn. That also included a 90-minute weather delay at that time as well.

However, Spaun birdied his final two holes to be the only player of the week to shoot under par, finishing at -1. 

As a result, here are 10 winners and losers from the third major championship of 2025.  

Winner: J.J. Spaun, U.S. Open Champion

PGA: U.S. Open - Final Round
Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The experience from losing the Players Championship in March in playoff fashion paid off Sunday for J.J. Spaun. Despite making five bogeys over his first six holes to begin the day, he made just one the rest of the day, which came on the par-4 15th. However, within that stretch, Spaun made four birdies over his final seven holes. That also included his drive on the drivable par-4 17th, where he got his tee shot to 18 feet, which set up a two-putt for birdie. 

To cap it off, Spaun’s putt on the 72nd hole, from 64 feet, five inches, was the longest made putt by any player over the entire week. As a result, Spaun shot 40 on the front nine and 32 on the back nine. No player since Francis Ouimet in 1913 had shot 40 on the opening nine holes to win the U.S. Open until Spaun. 

Related: Where J.J. Spaun stands among the list of U.S. Open Championships, dating back to 1895

Loser: Sam Burns

PGA: U.S. Open - Third Round
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This week marked Sam Burns’ first 54-hole lead at a major championship, holding a one-shot lead over Adam Scott and Spaun. Despite shooting a 3-over 38 on the front nine, he struggled on the back nine. Although he made birdie on the par-4 10th, Burns shot six-over across the final seven holes to shoot an 8-over 78 in the final to finish tied for seventh. One of his double bogeys, which came on the par-4 15th, came as a result of not getting a free drop after getting not one, but two opinions with water around his ball. 

Winner: Robert MacIntyre, U.S. Open runner-up

PGA: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - Second Round
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Robert MacIntyre came out of nowhere to finish as the runner-up. As the group battled, MacIntyre shot bogey-free over his final 12 holes Sunday. He made birdies on the ninth, 14th, and 17th holes, all par-4s. His birdie on the 17th even put him tied with Spaun for the lead at the moment. 

In three previous U.S. Open starts, MacIntyre had not finished inside the top 25 or better until this week. It also marks MacIntyre’s best finish at a major championship, in addition to his fourth top 10 at a major and first since last year’s PGA Championship, when he tied for eighth. 

Also read: Did You Notice This? Oakmont Country Club, Site of the US Open, Is Split in Half by a Highway – Here’s Why

Loser: Adam Scott 

PGA: PGA Championship - Second Round
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Even at 44 years old, Adam Scott is proving that age is just a number, but more importantly, experience outweighs time. He was the only player in the field to record three rounds of par or better, capped off by his 3-under 67 Saturday to put him one shot back of the lead. However, like Burns, he was unable to continue his consistent play Sunday, shooting a 9-over 79 to finish tied for 12th. 

Scott made one birdie on the day compared to eight bogeys and a double bogey. Scott was attempting to win his first major championship since the 2013 Masters while becoming the oldest player to win a U.S. Open since 1990 by Hale Irwin, who was 45 years and 15 days at the time of his win. (The Aussie was 44 years, 10 months, and 30 days old on Sunday.) 

Winner: Viktor Hovland

PGA: U.S. Open - First Round
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Viktor Hovland has been up and down over the last couple of years, from changing caddies to subpar play. This week, Hovland came up just short, placing third at two-over par. However, it marks Hovland’s seventh straight made cut and best finish since winning the Valspar Championship in late March. 

He put himself into contention late with a birdie on the 17th. In addition, Hovland gets a little credit as he gave Spaun the read on the 72nd hole. 

Winner: Philip Barbaree 

PGA: U.S. Open - Final Round
Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

One of the great features about the U.S. Open is that everyone has the chance to compete through qualifying. Like Matt Vogt, a dentist who competed this week, Philip Barbaree made his way to Oakmont through local and final qualifying. Barbaree last competed in the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. This time, he was looking to make the cut for the first time. 

Because of his playing schedule, Barbaree was forced to finish his second round, needing to make a five-foot putt on the final hole to make the cut. He went on to make the cut and celebrated like he won the event.   

Loser: Shane Lowry

PGA: Truist Championship - Final Round
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The Irishman had a week to forget this week at Oakmont. Shane Lowry shot 17-over par across the first two days. Lowry posted a 9-over 79 on Thursday as a result of five bogeys and three double bogeys. That was compared to just one scoring hole, an eagle on the par-4 third after holing out from 160 yards out. 

On Friday, Lowry’s day started badly and only got worse. He began the day five-over through four holes with three bogeys and a double bogey. Then on the back nine, Lowry bogeyed the 10th before things started to spiral. On the par-4 14th, one of the easier holes on the course, he drove his ball into the rough, but was able to get on the green in two. However, after his third shot, before placing his marker down, he picked up his ball. As a result, it marked a one-shot penalty to an already challenging week, both physically and mentally. 

Loser: Phil Mickelson 

PGA: Masters Tournament - Second Round
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In what might be his final U.S. Open, Phil Mickelson came up short Friday to make the cut. He recorded double bogeys on the 15th and 17th holes, both par 4s. Had he limited the damage to a bogey on either hole, he would have played the weekend. However, his exemption to compete in the U.S. Open as a result of winning the 2021 PGA Championship expires this week. It also means that the 55-year-old might have played his final U.S. Open after 34 starts and six runner-up finishes. In addition, Mickelson was the only player in the field this week who competed in the 1994 U.S. Open at Oakmont.    

Related: Phil Mickelson Sets the Internet on Fire With ‘Genius’ Over the Head Chip Shot

Winner: Xander Schauffele 

PGA: Masters Tournament - Final Round
Credit: Grace Smith-Imagn Images

Every year, the United States Golf Association (USGA) wants to make sure the U.S Open is the toughest test, both from a physical and mental standpoint. Since making his U.S. Open debut in 2017, Xander Schauffele has never finished 15th or worse. That streak continued this week for the 2024 two-time major champion, tying for 12th place this week. It is a feat that is never easy, even for Schauffele, who has dealt with a rib injury since the beginning of the season. 

Schauffele shot even par over his final 36 holes to finish inside the top 14 for his ninth straight year. The consistency for Schauffele continues as he also extends his current made cut streak to 65 straight starts.

Loser: Bryson DeChambeau

PGA: PGA Championship - Third Round
Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

The reigning champion struggled this week, trying to become the eighth player in U.S. Open history to win back-to-back years. However, Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut, shooting 73-77 over the first two days. In Friday’s second round, he ranked 135th in strokes gained approach, 132nd in both fairway accuracy and greens in regulation, as well as 124th strokes gained putting. 

Breven Honda received his bachelor’s in journalism from San Diego State in May 2021. During his time at SDSU, ... More about Breven Honda
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