Beyond the Green Jacket: What J.J. Spaun Teaches Us About Father-First Success

Oakmont’s 18th green exploded in cheers when J.J. Spaun’s 64-foot birdie putt disappeared into the cup, sealing the 125th U.S. Open. Cameras caught the textbook fist pump, then zeroed in on a moment even rarer: a drenched-in-tears champion racing straight to his wife, Melody, and scooping up daughters Emerson Lili and Violet Windsor. The gold medal glittered, but the real glow was the look in those little girls’ eyes. Dad had won.

Only hours earlier Spaun had stood in a 3 a.m. CVS aisle hunting children’s medicine for Violet’s stomach bug. He was exhausted, under pressure, and still unmistakably “Dad first.” That resolve is why this win resonates far beyond golf.

Own the Title That Won’t Tarnish

Trophies collect dust; fatherhood shapes souls. Spaun’s post-round interview said it all:

“My daughter always asks, ‘Were you the winner today?’ Today she didn’t have to ask—she saw it for herself.”

When kids can witness our wins, and our battles on the way, they gather a vision for their own futures. They learn that diligence and devotion are not competing values; they’re intertwined.

Excel Without Excluding

A dad’s craft, whether pounding nails, planning budgets, or pounding drives down a fairway can either wall off the family or draw them in. Spaun’s team of three shows how to choose the second path:

• Share the Map. At breakfast, outline the day’s “course strategy.” Kids who know where Dad is aiming feel invited, not neglected.
• Broadcast the Why. Explain how excellence in your work blesses customers, coworkers, and the family itself. Big-picture purpose fires kids’ imaginations.
• Celebrate the Micro-Wins. Spaun high-fived Emerson for putting practice; you can praise spelling-test “birdies” and dishwasher “eagle putts.” Small applauses echo loudly.

Bring Them Onto the Course

Spaun didn’t shove his daughters behind ropes; he hoisted them past security. Dads can do the same metaphorically:

• Let kids see the workstation, the studio, the kiln, the cockpit.
• Invite them to ask questions, and answer with candor and wonder.
• Hand them safe but meaningful “caddie” tasks: holding the flashlight, placing the pastry order, sorting the invoices. Ownership sparks belonging.

Compete With a Bigger Scorecard

The world’s leaderboard tracks dollars and dashboards. Heaven’s counts faithfulness. Compete hard, yes, but score yourself on:

• Integrity under pressure (Spaun took an unplayable drop on Saturday rather than risk a rules violation).
• Service to those who can’t repay you.
• The laughter echoing around the dinner table after a long day.

Resolve: The Hidden Training Aid

Every dad fights drift. Resolve is the muscle that re-centers us on what matters most. Strengthen it daily:

1. Name Your Non-Negotiables. Spaun protected bedtime stories even on tour weeks. What’s on your list?
2. Set a Visible Reminder. A photo on the dash or a sticky note inside the briefcase brings faces into focus.
3. Recruit Accountability. Spaun’s caddie knows the family schedule; your buddy can ping you if late nights stack up.
4. Simplify Where Possible. The pursuit of “more” can hollow out the house you’re working to fill. Prune commitments, prune clutter, grow presence.

The Lasting Image

Long after reporters left Oakmont, Spaun knelt beside two pint-sized sisters tracing their fingers over the U.S. Open trophy. For them, it’s not just silver, it’s a mirror reflecting what perseverance plus closeness looks like. And for dads everywhere, it’s a nudge to keep the main title in full view: Father.