J.J. Spaun has proven that his rise into golfing stardom was no fluke in 2025.
Since J.J. Spaun won the US Open, he was one of Team USA’s best players at the Ryder Cup and is now going toe-to-toe with some of the world’s best players at the Hero World Challenge, and coming out on top.
Through two days at Tiger Woods’ event, Spaun is in the leading pack at 10-under-par. He’s one shot ahead of Scottie Scheffler going into the weekend’s action: not a position we’d have expected him to be in after he almost lost his PGA Tour card in 2024.
What’s even more impressive about this feat? Spaun is playing far from his best golf in the Bahamas. In fact, he’s the worst in the field by some margin in one crucially important area of the game.
J.J. Spaun leads Hero World Challenge despite being the worst putter in the field
The Ryder Cup proved the importance of putting. Keegan Bradley’s course setup meant Team Europe effectively won the tournament on the greens, but Spaun was able to go 2-1-0 despite losing over a stroke to the field with his putting.
And at the Hero World Challenge, he’s doing it again. Shockingly, Spaun is losing 3.13 strokes on the green to the field at the event. That’s nearly three strokes worse than the next contender, Wyndham Clark.
| Hero World Challenge Putting Rank | Tournament Rank | Player | Strokes gained |
| 16th | T1 | Wyndham Clark | -0.69 |
| 17th | T14 | Andrew Novak | -0.91 |
| 18th | 9 | Justin Rose | -1.42 |
| 19th | 19 | Jordan Spieth | -2.72 |
| 20th (last) | T1 | JJ Spaun | -3.13 |
It’s not been a theme of his season. In fact, 2025 was the best putting year of Spaun’s career, and he won the US Open because of his prowess on the greens.
It’s incredibly impressive that Spaun is able to overcome this deficiency during tournaments, and not only play well, but lead. That’s the biggest proof that he’s not only able to contend when he’s on his game, but he can fight for titles when it’s not quite clicking.
That’s the mark of a man who is truly one of the best players in the world.
How J.J. Spaun is leading Hero World Challenge despite putting woes
While Spaun’s break from golf after the Ryder Cup might have hurt his putting, his golf swing seems to be better than ever.
In a field featuring the hard-hitting Cameron Young and the laser accurate Scottie Scheffler, Spaun is leading the field off the tee by gaining 2.72 strokes to the field. And his iron play is keeping in contention too.
How long should an 18 hole round of golf take?
He’s been the third-best player on approach, gaining 1.53 strokes, and the second-best from tee to green. Spaun has been dialled in, and honestly should be leading by far more.
Once some putts start to drop for the American, watch out. It could be Spaun who runs away with this tournament, not Scheffler as many expected.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
