Southampton (United States) (AFP) – Defending champion JJ Spaun plans to use the same formula to win the US Open this week at Shinnecock as he did to capture his first major title last year at Oakmont. The 35-year-old American relied upon resiliency and hot putting when it mattered most to capture the title at Oakmont, sinking a 64-foot birdie putt on the final hole for the title. He birdied four of the last six holes after having made bogeys on five of the first six, fighting back when all seemed lost. And he wants perseverance to pay off again.
“I was pretty resilient that week,” Spaun said Monday. “The biggest thing at US Opens is being resilient, taking all the punches that are thrown at you, taking your medicine. It’s not going to be easy golf. It’s not going to be ho-hum, very boring golf. But the way I persevered and was resilient last year, I’ve been trying to use that since then. I think I’ll lean on that more, especially this week.”
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Ninth-ranked Spaun returned the US Open trophy to the US Golf Association (USGA) on Monday, giving it one last kiss before setting it down and signing in for this year’s event, saying, “Hopefully I’ll see you in about six days.” Spaun could become only the eighth golfer to win back-to-back US Open titles, a group that includes Brooks Koepka, Ben Hogan, Curtis Strange, Bobby Jones, John McDermott, Ralph Guldahl, and the only three-peat winner — Willie Anderson from 1903-1905.
“Trying to do the exact same thing, same blueprint,” Spaun said. “The biggest thing for me this week is to really enjoy it.” Spaun, never better than 23rd at a major until winning, captured his third PGA Tour title in April at the Texas Open. He has produced three top-12 finishes since then, including fifth at Quail Hollow and 12th at the Memorial two weeks ago.
“I tried to just forget about trying to be this perfect golfer I thought I was last year, when in reality I just was doing the same things,” Spaun said. “I just was mentally a little bit more nice to myself and not so worried about being perfect. That’s what led to better golf.”
Spaun’s time with the title has been a whirlwind and over too soon. “The last year has gone by very fast,” Spaun said. “About the time the USGA reached out to send the trophy back, it was bittersweet, but it has been life-changing. A lot of great things have come from winning this wonderful championship.”
Now comes grinding out another major and handling the challenges of wind and deep rough and fast greens on offer at Shinnecock. “USGA wants you to get every club dirty. That’s what they like to live by and it’s going to be true,” Spaun said. “It’s a course where people aren’t going to run away with it. You can’t win it the first day, but you definitely can lose it.”
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