PORTRUSH, Northern Eire — A month faraway from the best second of his {golfing} life at Oakmont, J.J. Spaun nonetheless can’t consider he’s the reigning U.S. Open champion.
“It was actually surreal after I received,’’ he mentioned Wednesday on the eve of the British Open first spherical at Portrush. “I nonetheless get up each morning making an attempt to pinch myself, trying on the trophy and simply suppose it’s truly mine.’’
When Spaun speaks so actually and humbly about his confidence, it’s straightforward to marvel if he believes he can drive up the street from Portrush to Portstewart, the opposite world-class hyperlinks course within the space, and beat a bunch of 10-handicappers in a match.
“I really feel like I’ve needed to show to myself that I’m worthy of simply enjoying on the PGA Tour and profitable on the PGA Tour,’’ Spaun mentioned. “It’s laborious sufficient to win normally on the PGA Tour, and also you sort of get in your head pondering, ‘Well, if I can’t win a traditional occasion on the PGA Tour, what makes you suppose you’ll be able to win a serious?’
“I by no means thought I’d win a serious. A couple of years in the past, I used to be simply making an attempt to get in them. That’s sort of how my profession has developed. I don’t actually know what’s in retailer for myself. I don’t know what I’m able to now. I do know what I can do, and that’s all I can actually depend on.’’
What he did in June was seize the second when the second was greatest, burying a birdie bomb of a putt on the 72nd gap for a walk-off victory at Oakmont.
Spaun mentioned he “took away a variety of confidence’’ from his U.S. Open triumph.
Now he finds himself grouped with defending champion Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm in one of many marquee teams for the primary two rounds of the 153rd British Open.
“Self-belief is a large key to pulling off an enormous occasion like a serious, not to mention a U.S. Open,’’ Spaun mentioned. “I hadn’t been in that territory actually fairly often, simply as soon as earlier this 12 months at The Gamers [where he lost in a playoff to Rory McIlroy]. Studying experiences like which have helped me come by way of on the opposite aspect on the U.S. Open.’’
Now Spaun, ranked No. 10 on the earth, is a lock to play for the U.S. Ryder Cup group, which appeared unfathomable to him not way back.
“I don’t suppose I’ve ever considered myself within the Ryder Cup,’’ Spaun mentioned. “However I’ve been listening to that loads all through the previous couple of years, from my caddie [Mark Carens] and my coach, like they’ve been sort of placing that on the market and virtually in a method manifesting it, which is sort of bizarre.
“My caddie always believed in me. Even when I was ranked outside the top 100, he’s like, ‘I think you’re a top 10 player in the world.’ He thinks I could be No. 1, but honestly, let’s be real. But here we are top 10 in the world.”“He at all times believed I might be on the Ryder Cup, and right here we’re trying fairly good for the Ryder Cup. It’s simply bizarre the way you sort of hear [and] you soak in these issues that folks let you know, after which it simply kind of finally ends up occurring. I believe that has to do loads with creating and believing it your self.
