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Oakmont Today
By the People, for the People
U.S. Open Champion J.J. Spaun Struggles to Recapture Magic
Spaun's breakout 2025 season has not carried over, as he's off to a dismal start in 2026.
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
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J.J. Spaun, the reigning U.S. Open champion, has gotten off to a brutal start in the 2026 PGA Tour season. After winning the U.S. Open and finishing runner-up at several other major events last year, Spaun has struggled mightily in his first four tournaments of 2026, missing two cuts and finishing well outside the top 40 in the other two. His typically strong iron play and putting have abandoned him, and he now ranks outside the top 100 on Tour in several key statistical categories.
Why it matters
Spaun's breakout 2025 campaign was supposed to be a springboard to greater success, but his poor start to 2026 has raised concerns about whether he can maintain the high level of play that made him a major champion. As one of the top-ranked players in the world, Spaun's struggles are puzzling and could impact his chances of contending in the upcoming major championships.
The details
In four starts this season, Spaun has finished T40, missed the cut, T45, and missed the cut. At the recent Genesis Invitational, he finished third-to-last in the 72-player field, losing over 2 strokes on approach shots and nearly 3 strokes from putting. This is a stark contrast from last season, when Spaun ranked 7th on Tour in total strokes gained, 5th in strokes gained on approach, and 43rd in total putting. His putting prowess, which was key to his U.S. Open victory, has abandoned him, as he's made only 82.3% of his putts from inside 10 feet this year, ranking 151st on Tour. His greens-in-regulation percentage has also plummeted to 67.13%, ranking 120th.
- Spaun won the U.S. Open in 2025.
- Spaun finished runner-up at the Players Championship, FedEx St. Jude Championship, and Cognizant Classic in 2025.
- Spaun has made 4 starts on the PGA Tour in 2026, with poor results.
The players
J.J. Spaun
The reigning U.S. Open champion and a top-10 player in the Official World Golf Ranking.
What’s next
The major championships will be here soon, and Spaun needs to show signs of life in the next two months to prove he can still contend at the highest level.
The takeaway
Spaun's struggles to start the 2026 season are puzzling, as he was expected to build on his breakout 2025 campaign. His typically strong iron play and putting have abandoned him, and he now ranks outside the top 100 on Tour in several key statistical categories. If Spaun cannot turn things around in the coming months, his chances of contending in the upcoming major championships could be in jeopardy.
