U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun has lost his magic

Last year, J.J. Spaun won the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club and finished runner-up at the Players Championship, FedEx St. Jude Championship and Cognizant Classic. His breakout season was supposed to serve as a springboard for a strong 2026 campaign, but he's gotten off to a brutal start. 

In four starts this season, Spaun has finished T40, cut, T45 and cut. He's coming off a missed cut at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in which he finished third-to-last in the 72-man field. The American lost 2.43 strokes on approach and 2.878 from putting in just two rounds.

That's the most concerning piece of Spaun's terrible start to 2026. Iron play and putting were his two greatest strengths last season, especially during that magical week at Oakmont. Now, they're both major deficiencies. 

After nearly two months, Spaun ranks 114th on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained, 100th in strokes gained on approach and 161st (out of 172 qualified players) in strokes gained from putting this season. Last year, he ranked seventh in total strokes gained, fifth in strokes gained on approach and 43rd in total putting. He won the U.S. Open because he gained a whopping 10.52 strokes from putting, a mark he hasn't come close to replicating since. 

Spaun has made only 82.3 percent of his putts from inside 10 feet this year, which ranks 151st on Tour. His 67.13 percent greens-in-regulation percentage also ranks 120th. That's not a winning combination on the PGA Tour.

What happened to 2025 J.J. Spaun?