The US Open has now come to a close, with J.J. Spaun battling the entire field, the course and the weather to triumph at Oakmont.
Bryson DeChambeau labelled Oakmont the hardest course he’s played, before the LIV Golf man went on to miss the cut.
Oakmont certainly made mistakes as it hosted another US Open, where Spaun triumphed with a score of one-under.
He was the only player to end the major championship under par, with runner-up Robert MacIntyre finishing on one-over.
They were among the players forced to endure a final round rain delay in Pennsylvania, returning to action after a 90-minute break at Oakmont.
Rick Shiels says what he didn’t like about ‘strange’ US Open at Oakmont
But Spaun returned to action and fired his way to the title, clinching the US Open with an unforgettable 64-foot putt for birdie on the last hole.
It was, however, a major championship to forget for Rick Shiels, who said on The Rick Shiels Golf Show: “It felt like a really weird US Open.
“It felt like a really, really strange one. There were so many things going on. The golf course seemed to be the real star.
“You know when there is a football match and you think you just want this to be a really good football match and you don’t want the referee to be the main character and mess this up. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they have a sending off when they shouldn’t.
“That is my feeling with the US Open this week. I felt like the main character was Oakmont and for me it ruined it for the whole of the US Open.
“I said it in last week’s podcast before the event, I do not love seeing these guys struggling so badly and unfairly. Looking so frustrated. As a viewer I just find it uncomfortable but I know that’s not everybody, I get that.”
J.J. Spaun scoring stats from extraordinarily difficult US Open at Oakmont
Frustrating was undoubtedly the overarching feeling among the field at Oakmont, which was a tough enough test without the added element of inclement weather.
The rough was extraordinarily thick at the course, which was also extremely long with very challenging greens.
It was in stark contrast to the previous major championships this season, which were won by Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.
The former won The Masters via a playoff after finishing on 11-under, with the latter ending on the same score at the PGA Championship.
| Stat | Total | Rank |
| Birdies | 15 | T4 |
| Pars | 43 | T29 |
| Bogeys | 14 | T9 |
Both McIlroy and Scheffler fell short of repeating their heroics at Oakmont, finishing T19 and T7 respectively.
But Spaun didn’t have such difficulties, claiming his maiden major championship win and just his second on the PGA Tour.
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