US Open champion JJ Spaun has revealed that ' advice was ringing in his ears as he at Oakmont. Despite a poor start to the of the 125th , Spaun dramatically recovered to claim his victory and a £3.6million prize.

The 34-year-old shot five-over through the first six holes and threatened to fall away, but managed to battle back into contention. Having narrowly in a playoff at The Players Championship earlier this year, Spaun hit a magnificent tee shot on the 17th to birdie and secure a one-shot lead. On the climactic 18th hole, he sank an astounding 65-foot putt for birdie to finish with a two-over 72, securing the US Open title ahead of Robert MacIntyre.

In his post-victory interview, Spaun stunningly revealed that golfing legend Woods had inspired his comeback. That was because fellow PGA Tour star Max Homa told him a story as the pair had lunch about Woods' own advice on fighting back and winning the US Open.

Spaun said: "I just felt like you keep putting yourself in these positions, like eventually you're going to tick one off. I don't put myself in this position often, or at all, for a major, that's for sure. This is only my second US Open. But all the close calls that I've had on the PGA Tour this year has just been a really good experience to just never, never give up."

Shedding light on Woods' advice, Spaun added: "Actually, I was thinking about how I was having lunch with Max Homa at home. We live in the same area. We belong to the same club. He was telling a Tiger story where he was like, 'As long as you are still there, you don't have to do anything crazy, especially at a US Open.'

"He's like, 'Tiger said this would happen and the wind will switch, but you've got to just stay there. Even if you're four back, you've just got to stay there. You don't have to do anything crazy.'

"I kind of was thinking about that out there this afternoon, where I was four back, maybe going back out after the delay, and then I made some good pars, nothing crazy. Got a really good birdie.

"Then, next thing you know, I'm like tied for the lead, I think, and within four holes of the restart. That just kind of goes back to that, like you just try to stay there. You don't have to do anything crazy, especially at a US Open. All those things came true."

Spaun still managed to sink the longest putt of the US Open to win the championship. He embraced his two daughters - one of whom was sick - and wife Melody as the family celebrated on the 18th green on Father's Day. When asked if he felt like the luckiest man in the world given the last few days, Spaun smiled before referencing Woods again.

"100 per cent, at least in my mind," the 2025 US Open champion admitted. "Just to finish it off like that is just a dream. You watch other people do it. You see the Tiger chip, you see Nick Taylor's putt, you see crazy moments. To have my own moment like that at this championship, I'll never forget this moment for the rest of my life."