Winner's Bag

U.S. Open 2025: The clubs J.J. Spaun used to win at Oakmont

By E. Michael Johnson

June 15, 2025

Andrew Redington

In one of the most improbable wins in U.S. Open history, J.J. Spaun started the final round with five bogeys in the first six holes, stood four shots back with nine holes to play then came home in 32 to win at rain-laden Oakmont C.C.

Spaun made four birdies coming home, dropping a 40-footer for at No. 12 to get within one of the lead before a 22-footer fell on No. 14 for birdie to take the lead at even par for the tournament.

The shot of the tournament—and Spaun’s life—came at the 314-yard, uphill par-4 17th when Spaun unleashed a tee shot that found the putting surface, settling 18 feet from the hole. The ensuing two-putt birdie gave him a one-shot cushion heading to 18 where a shocking birdie from 64 feet—the longest putt anyone made all week—sealed the first major title of his career.

Titleist GT3

$650 | Golf Galaxy

5.0

GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE

Hot List Gold

$650

It has a more forward center of gravity compared to the GT2 and works best for golfers with a repeatable impact location looking to maximize ball speed. The weight track is forward in the sole to allow the golfer to dial in the preferred center of gravity for better energy transfer and more directional control. A super lightweight thermoformed polymer piece, which wraps around the crown to meet the sole on the heel and toe sides, helps maintain Titleist’s preferred sound and feel. The lightweight crown piece saves weight so that the center of gravity is slightly forward and lower from past models for increased ball speed and less spin. A slightly raised rear section and smoother lines and curves from crown to sole create better aerodynamics for increased swing-speed potential. A new variable-thickness pattern includes a ring encircling the back perimeter of the face to maximize ball speed. MOI Rating: MODERATE Top 5 in Performance, low- and high-handicaps 8, 9, 10, 11 degrees (with a 16-way adjustable hosel)

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DETAILS

Spaun’s driver is a 9-degree Titleist GT3 with a Fujikura Ventus Black Velocore+ 6X shaft. The GT drivers feature a face design that incorporates a thicker ring shape around the perimeter of the back of the face, while the middle of the face inside that ring uses a variable thickness pattern to maximize deflection.

Of course you don’t win a U.S. Open without fine iron play. Spaun employed a split set of Srixon irons with the ZXi5 for the 4-iron and the sleeker ZXi7 for the rest of the set.

Srixon ZXi7

$186 per iron | Golf Galaxy

5.0

GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE

Hot List Gold

$186 per iron

A proprietary forging process adds strength in the hosel area, allowing for the use of a softer steel for optimal feel. Mass behind the hitting area reduces face flex for tour-like distance control. The venerable Tour V.T. sole design helps turn fat shots into acceptable hits. The 8-iron through gap wedge have deeper grooves spaced more closely together for Velcro-like grab on approach shots. Laser milling between each groove delivers additional bite. Top 5 in Performance, middle-handicaps. SPECS: 7-iron: 32 degrees; PW: 46 degrees

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DETAILS

His putter is from perhaps the hottest putter company in golf. L.A.B. putters have become increasingly popular on tour and at retail, and Spaun’s DF3 mallet (which some say looks like a branding iron) harkens back to the company’s original Directed Force model, which featured a larger head.

That putter that looks like a branding iron—and made 136 feet of putts over the last seven holes—left its mark on U.S. Open history.