J.J. Spaun is contending at
Colonial and believing things are aligning for his U.S. Open defense
[May 30, 2026]
By SCHUYLER DIXON
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — J.J. Spaun is thinking a little bit about
his schedule and a lot about his putting while in contention at the
Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial.
The reigning U.S. Open champion believes he's getting both lined up
just about right three weeks before he tries to defend his first
major title.
Spaun surged with four birdies on his front nine before a couple of
late bogeys in a 2-under 68 that put him at 8 under Friday, two
shots behind Englishman Jordan Smith and one back of Hideki
Matsuyama and three others after 36 holes at Colonial.
Smith took the lead by himself with a 31-foot birdie putt at the
par-3 16th, saved par from a bunker on 17 and missed a 9-footer for
birdie on 18 to finish at 10 under with a second consecutive 65.
“It’s going to be a new experience for us out here leading for the
first time,” said Smith, a 33-year-old PGA Tour rookie who qualified
through the DP World Tour and had his best finish at third in the
Valpar Championship. “Not going to force anything, not going to rush
anything, just going to see what happens and enjoy it.”
Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion with 10 other tour victories,
and Michael Thorbjornsen had matching 65s. They were at 9 under with
Ryan Gerard (67) and 2023 Britisn Open champion Brian Harman (66).
Spaun was joined by Akshay Bhatia (65), Russell Henley (66), Brice
Garnett (66) and Alex Smalley (67).
A.J. Ewart had the second hole-in-one two days at the 195-yard,
par-3 16th — Brandt Snedeker aced it in the opening round — and
followed an opening 70 with a career-best 63, the low round of the
day. He was at 7 under with Michael Brennan (66) and Mackenzie
Hughes (67).
Gary Woodland, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, was among 11 players at
6 under at Hogan's Alley, where light winds and still-soft
conditions led to 154 sub-par scores through two rounds. That tied
the previous high from 2010, when Zach Johnson set the 72-hole
scoring record of 21-under 259.
Temperatures reached the mid-90s with a heat index approaching 100,
and conditions are supposed to stay that way through the weekend.
There is almost no chance for rain.
“It’s drying up just like it probably did a little bit yesterday
afternoon,” Harman said. “The fairways will get firm and these
fairways will get tougher to hit, and that’s how this place protects
itself.”
Defending champion Ben Griffin shot a second consecutive 68 and was
4 under along with Justin Thomas, a stroke above the cut line.
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J.J. Spaun watches his tee shot on the ninth hole during the first
round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament at Colonial
Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP
Photo/LM Otero)
Spaun, who was among six players tied for the lead
after an opening 64, missed the cut in six of his first 13 events
this year, including the Masters and PGA Championship. He said he
changed putters because he was losing confidence on the greens.
The highest-ranked player in the field at No. 9, Spaun kept his hot
front nine going with a 15-foot par putt at 17 and was still without
a bogey for the tournament before missing a pair of par putts
outside 15 feet on the seventh and eight holes.
“It’s nice to see that the putter switch was a good change,” Spaun
said. “I found myself kind of resenting my putter at times when I’m
out on the course. That’s been the only issue all year. My ball
striking’s been pretty solid. The weeks that I putt just slightly
better than average, I contend.”
Spaun's other two wins are both at the Valero Texas Open in San
Antonio, including last month. He figures the 27 holes on Sunday in
a rain-altered event might have contributed to a 74-75 at the
Masters, and he shot 70-76 while playing a third consecutive week at
the PGA.
After playing the Memorial next week, Spaun will skip the Canadian
Open before going to Shinnecock Hills.
“It will be nice to have a week off and then get to Shinnecock and
kind of feel fresh, but not like I’ve taken too much time off,” said
Spaun, who skipped Colonial's neighboring event, The CJ Cup Byron
Nelson, last week.
Smith made 181 feet of putts, including a 40-footer from the fringe
on the par-4 12th. The long putt at 16 came two holes after his only
bogey of the tournament at the par-4 14th.
“The putter’s been hot the last two days, which is nice to see,”
Smith said. “Swing still hasn’t felt 100%, but we’ve been hitting a
lot of fairways and a lot of greens, which is key out here.”
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