J.J. Spaun stood over his ball on the 18th green at Oakmont, 64 feet from the hole, with a chance to cap one of the most improbable final rounds in U.S. Open history. He had bogeyed five of his first six holes, stared down weather delays and climbed back into contention through sheer will. Now, with the entire golf world watching, Spaun drained the putt — a winding, snaking birdie that clinched his first major championship and made him overcome with emotion.
It wasn’t just the win. It was everything it took to get there.
The Low Point: An Uncertain Path Forward
Just a year ago, Spaun wasn’t thinking about major championships. He was wondering if he still belonged on Tour. His game had unraveled, his confidence was gone and his ranking had fallen outside the top 150. He quietly considered walking away — not because he didn’t love the sport, but because it no longer seemed to love him back.
But the roots of his struggle ran deeper than a bad swing or missed cut. For years, Spaun had battled health issues that no one could quite figure out. Fatigue, dramatic weight loss, brain fog. Originally diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, Spaun tried everything to manage it — diets, medications, workouts — but nothing worked. Behind every round of golf was a body fighting against him.
The Turning Point: A Misdiagnosis and New Life
Everything changed in 2021. Doctors discovered Spaun actually had Type 1 diabetes — a far different disease requiring insulin and close monitoring. With the right treatment, Spaun started gaining weight back, rebuilding muscle and slowly rediscovering his swing.
But the shift wasn’t just physical. Spaun credits a small moment during one of his lowest stretches: watching the movie Wimbledon, about an aging player making one final run. “Maybe that can be me,” he thought. And from that day forward, quitting was off the table.
With a new diagnosis came new life. Spaun’s return wasn’t meteoric — it was methodical. He rebuilt his routines. He prioritized recovery. He started playing with freedom again, no longer weighed down by confusion or self-doubt. In 2022, he broke through with a win at the Valero Texas Open — his first on the PGA Tour — and followed it up with a quiet consistency that carried him through the next few seasons.
