CROMWELL, Conn. — This isn’t the first time J.J. Spaun has come to the Travelers Championship after a life-changing moment. Two years ago, his daughter Violet was born on a Monday, and he didn’t show up to TPC River Highlands until the night before the opening round of the PGA Tour event.
He might be even more wiped now. That’s what winning the U.S. Open can do.
“Violet’s birthday is Thursday,” Spaun said while reminiscing, stopping before his eyes widened slightly. “Tomorrow. I don’t even know what day it is.”
It’s been quite the whirlwind, and the champion of the 125th U.S. Open wouldn’t trade it.
The Los Angeles Dodgers — the team script of the reigning World Series champions is on his yardage book — are trying to arrange for him to throw out the first pitch at a Major League Baseball game. Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, who played the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with Spaun a few years back, congratulated him for Sunday’s victory at Pennsylvania’s Oakmont Country Club. Text messages came in from former U.S. Open champions Hale Irwin and Curtis Strange.