J.J. Spaun narrowly missed out on his second victory of the 2025 season at the St Jude Championship on Sunday.
Spaun produced an excellent five-under-par 65 at TPC Southwind to finish the tournament alongside Justin Rose at -16.
Both players parred the first playoff hole and birdied the second, before Rose eventually won with another birdie on the third.
Spaun spoke to the media about his disappointing defeat shortly after the St Jude Championship concluded.
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J.J. Spaun reflects on St Jude Championship playoff defeat against Justin Rose
Spaun will feel even more hurt by the playoff loss because he had an easier putt than Rose, who went first, on the third extra hole.
“Yeah, it sucks to miss a seven-footer, but tricky read and pulled it a little bit,” he said. “But yeah, I hung in there the best I could, and he beat me to the hole first. Just wasn’t meant to be.
Spaun admitted that a combination of misreading the green and pulling his putt was the reason for his miss.
“Yeah, we were kind of guessing,” he added. “We couldn’t tell if it was going to break right or not. We played it left center.
“Just a lack of commitment and tugged it, and I tried to firm it just because the next putt was good. I think the firming it closed the face down, and I just pulled it a little bit.”
J.J. Spaun explains why he has leveled up in the 2025 season
Spaun had already won on the PGA Tour before this season, at the 2023 Valero Texas Open, but this year has been completely different.
He won his first major championship at the US Open in June and has established himself as one of the top 10 golfers in the world.
“Yeah, it’s obviously made a huge difference. I don’t know what’s gotten into me, honestly,” Spaun reviewed his incredible season.
“I think I’m just content with what I’ve done in this game, and now it’s just kind of free rolling. Just trying to win, and I think that’s a freeing mentality to have.”
Spaun believes that his improved green-reading and speed control with his putter have been two factors in his improvement this year.
“I’m not sure. I’m seeing the lines much better. The speed with my putter is a lot better, so I’m not worried about mis-hitting it with the technology in the putter that I use,” he explained.
“It always carries good speed, and speed is king when it comes to making longer putts, and it’s obviously helped this year. “
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