JJ Spaun tees off from the ninth hole.
JJ Spaun made headlines with a flawless opening round at the 2025 US Open, while Rory McIlroy endured a tough finish. Spaun’s bogey-free 66 placed him one stroke ahead of Thriston Lawrence, setting the early pace at Oakmont. Meanwhile, McIlroy’s first round unravelled dramatically, continuing a post-Masters slump that has raised more questions than answers.
Rory McIlroy Falters at the Finish
Rory McIlroy looked strong early in the day. A booming 392-yard drive and two-under score hinted at a resurgence. But Oakmont, with its punishing rough and fast greens, had other plans.
By the time McIlroy walked off his final hole, the ninth, he had carded a 74. The back half of his round was particularly bruising. He played the final nine in 41 strokes, including a painful double-bogey at the 8th.
This wasn’t unfamiliar territory. McIlroy missed the cut here in 2016. Still, given his Green Jacket triumph earlier this year, expectations were high. Unfortunately, the US Open once again exposed cracks in his game.
Struggles for the Big Names
McIlroy wasn’t the only star to stumble at Oakmont. Shane Lowry posted a 79. Justin Rose managed just a 77. Dustin Johnson, the 2016 Oakmont champion, ended with a 75 after a rare shank from the fairway.
Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau both signed for 73s. Phil Mickelson and Tommy Fleetwood also matched McIlroy’s 74, while Cameron Smith failed to register a single birdie en route to his 75.
It was a brutal day for some of golf’s biggest names.
McIlroy’s Post-Masters Puzzle
McIlroy’s situation is complex. Winning the Masters and completing the career grand slam was a historic achievement, but it’s left him in unfamiliar mental territory. Motivation might be fading now that he’s reached golf’s “holy grail.”
There are technical issues, too. His driving accuracy continues to haunt him. At Augusta, he ranked low in fairways hit. Even during his win at The Players, his tee shots were often erratic. His success in 2025 has relied more on gutsy recoveries than dominance off the tee.
Oakmont punished those inconsistencies. McIlroy’s driver let him down again, and the putter couldn’t bail him out.
JJ Spaun Rises to the Occasion
While stars fell, JJ Spaun soared. The 34-year-old delivered a composed, bogey-free 66, matching the lowest US Open first-round score ever recorded at Oakmont.
Spaun’s performance was as steady as it was impressive. After pushing McIlroy to the limit at The Players earlier this year, Spaun seems more confident and composed than ever.
“I used to be scared of being the one chased,” Spaun admitted. “Now I’m learning to embrace it.”
He credited his experience at The Players with helping him grow mentally. Competing toe-to-toe with McIlroy, even in defeat, gave him belief that he could perform on golf’s biggest stages.
MacIntyre and Others Stay in the Hunt
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre posted a respectable even-par 70. Though he dropped a shot on the last hole, he remained optimistic. “It’s a knife-edge on every shot,” he said. “This is the most demanding course I’ve ever played.”
Im Sung-jae briefly reached five under but faltered on the closing stretch, giving up three strokes. Brooks Koepka’s 68 and Jon Rahm’s 69 were also notable efforts late in the day. Koepka, motivated by a stern 45-minute lecture from coach Pete Cowen earlier in the week, showed grit and focus.
The Road Ahead at Oakmont
The US Open at Oakmont is already living up to its reputation. The course is punishing, demanding precision and nerve from even the best. As JJ Spaun leads with a calm head and Rory McIlroy battles both course and expectations, the stage is set for a dramatic weekend.
Spaun’s lead is slim, but his confidence is growing. If he keeps embracing the pressure, he might just turn close calls into a major triumph.
