J.J. Spaun’s L.A.B. DF3 putter, which he used to hole a 64-foot birdie putt to win the US Open at Oakmont last June, belongs in a museum.
Just not yet.
Spaun, speaking at Riviera in his hometown of Los Angeles on Wednesday, says he still has much more work to do with the zero-torque wand, one he tossed in the air in celebration on the 72nd green. Thankfully, his caddie, Mark Carens, retrieved it and could be seen holding it in the same hand he had pointed toward the sky while embracing his boss. Carens later explained he was pointing toward the heavens in remembrance of his deceased father, Ed, who “gave us a good read.” It made for an indelible image. Speaking of things that belong in a museum.
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While that photo might already be in the USGA’s museum, Spaun’s putter is not. Though not for lack of effort on the USGA’s part. The US Open champ revealed on Wednesday that he was asked to donate the custom flat-stick. Understandably, he had to turn down the USGA.
“I said, unfortunately, I can’t,” Spaun said. “That thing is not ready to be retired, especially after that putt.”
Fair enough. The USGA then asked for the next-best club, Spaun’s Titleist GT3 driver, which he used to drive the 17th green in the final round, setting up a two-putt birdie that gave him a one-shot lead with a hole remaining. That was an easier get.
“The second probably most valuable club, I think, was my driver,” he said. “And I actually had switched to a newer head, meaning, like, it was probably getting close to its limit. It ended up being kind of unusable anyway, so I donated that, and I think they were pretty happy.”
Not a bad consolation prize at all. And perhaps someday Spaun’s L.A.B. will be right alongside it. That day is not today.