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US Open champion JJ Spaun has revealed that a pep talk from the great Jack Nicklaus helped inspire him to glory at Oakmont last month.
Spaun claimed his first major in stunning fashion after a birdie-birdie finish at his final two holes saw him pip Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre down the stretch.
The 34-year-old American holed a monster putt of over 60-feet on the last green to seal the deal, ensuring that he was the only player in the field to finish under par at the brutally difficult course in Pittsburgh.
As he prepares to tee it up in the Genesis Scottish Open in East Lothian this week, Spaun explained how some wise words from the Golden Bear helped him roar to victory.
Asked about the messages of congratulations he received, Spaun said: ‘Yeah, it’s crazy, but it doesn’t get old. As a major champion, it’s nice to earn that respect from my peers. It’s been a pretty crazy year for me.
‘Jack Nicklaus wrote a very nice letter to me. It was funny, I saw him in passing at the Memorial Tournament (hosted by Nicklaus), the last tournament I played before the U.S. Open, and he just stopped me.
Spaun holds the US Open title aloft, which was his first major success
Spaun admits that he couldn't have got over the line without the words of advice from Nicklaus (pictured)
Spaun is hoping for another good week in East Lothian
‘I had never really engaged with him before that, but he just said I was playing really well. I said: “Yeah, it would have been nice to win”.
‘He just said: “You keep knocking on that door, you’re going to knock one down,” and, literally the next week, that happened at the US Open. He remembered that and sent me a nice note, which was really cool.’
Given the way he pipped MacIntyre in such agonising fashion, there might have been a danger of Spain being public enemy No 1 here in Scotland this week.
But nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the newly-crowned US Open champion explained that he has already shared a prophecy with MacIntyre’s manager Iain Stoddart.
‘I actually ran into Bob’s manager the morning after the US Open on Monday morning and he was happy,’ said Spaun.
‘He was really delighted for me and happy and he said: “You know what, that’s okay, because what you did to Bob, that’s okay because Rory McIlroy did that to Bob here at the Scottish Open the year before and then Bob comes back and won the next year.
‘So he said: “Now we’re winning the US Open the following year. It’s all good.’
