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Spaun Defends U.S. Open Amid Wind, Daughter’s Injuries

6/16/2026

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Summary

Spaun Defends

Spaun will start his U.S. Open title defense at Shinnecock Hills on Thursday, with 22 players ahead and wind gusts up to 20 mph forecast.
His 5-year-old daughter Emerson broke a collarbone at PGA Tour daycare last month and had a tooth pulled the next Wednesday.
After four missed cuts, Spaun recorded four T-14 or better finishes in his last five starts, practicing flighted shots in Scottsdale for the wind.

Summary

USA Network Broadcasts

USA Network will air Thursday’s opening round 6:30 a.m.–5 p.m. ET, with Peacock also covering the event.
FanDuel odds list Scottie Scheffler at 11/2, Rory McIlroy at 12-1, player Spaun at 50-1, with long shots to 125-1.
Shinnecock Hills, last U.S. Open host in 2018, featured no sub-par rounds and a 5-inch rough.
Brooks Koepka, Wyndham Clark and Jon Rahm are in the field, deepening competition.

History

Historical Context

In June 2000, the USGA staged the 100th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, moving the venue forward to mark the new millennium. Tiger Woods captured his first U.S. Open, posting a 272 (-12) total and a 15-stroke victory—the largest margin in any major—launching his “Tiger Slam.” The tournament also honored the late champion Payne Stewart and marked Jack Nicklaus’s final U.S. Open appearance.

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Spaun Defends

Spaun will start his U.S. Open title defense at Shinnecock Hills on Thursday, with 22 players ahead and wind gusts up to 20 mph forecast.
His 5-year-old daughter Emerson broke a collarbone at PGA Tour daycare last month and had a tooth pulled the next Wednesday.
After four missed cuts, Spaun recorded four T-14 or better finishes in his last five starts, practicing flighted shots in Scottsdale for the wind.

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