Jack Gruber-Imagn Images

U.S. Open Runner-Up's Reaction to J.J. Spaun's Winning Putt Catches Attention

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zachary Neel | Last updated Jun 15, 2025 9:38 PM ET

Every sportsman likes to imagine how they would react to winning a national championship, but it's not often that they imagine how they would react in a losing scenario.

On Sunday afternoon at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, Robert MacIntyre showed everyone what a sportsman he really is, and he's being applauded for it.

After taking the clubhouse lead at one-over par, MacIntyre had to sit idly by in the clubhouse and wait for the rest of the field to finish, hoping to dodge a lower score and take home the U.S. Open title. After holing a birdie on the 17th, J.J. Spaun just needed a two-putt par on the 18th to win his first major championship.

Instead, he holed a 64-foot birdie putt to win the tournament by two strokes.

JJ SPAUN WALKS IT OFF TO WIN THE US OPEN

A SEISMIC UNDERDOG STORY AT OAKMONT @ForePlayPod

pic.twitter.com/AcRbia8F6V
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 16, 2025

The putt from Spaun was the longest made by anyone in the entire tournament all week long, capping off an incredible final round that saw him bogey five of the first six holes earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, MacIntyre had a classy reaction to watching the putt drop from the clubhouse.

proper sportsman pic.twitter.com/xeGSEIdeS2
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) June 16, 2025

Instead of being upset, MacIntyre seemed genuinely impressed by the putt, clapping his hands and saying "wow!"

While it's fun to imagine that a lot of people would react in a similar fashion, it's fair to say that MacIntyre might be in a small group of people that would react so cordially to missing out on his first major championship opportunity.

Credit to MacIntyre for being a class act in this situation.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: