J.J. Spaun’s incredible rise to stardom at the start of the 2025 season was entirely unpredictable.
But as the year came to a close, Spaun had become a US Open champion, one of Team USA’s standouts at the Ryder Cup, and now finds himself among the world’s elite at Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge event.
Spaun almost lost his PGA Tour card in 2024. Now he is one of 19 players in this event, with a chance to take Scottie Scheffler’s title.
This is not just another tournament for the 35-year-old. It is a chance to compete in front of Tiger Woods, the man who inspired his journey into professional golf.
Spaun’s first meeting with his idol came back in 2017, when he was new to the PGA Tour, and the California native spoke out on what happened on that occasion.
What stood out to J.J. Spaun about his first encounter with Tiger Woods
Spaun was just starting out on the PGA Tour in 2017, a year when Woods was dealing with back problems. Still, Woods made an appearance at the Farmers Insurance Open early that year, which is where he and Spaun first crossed paths.
Asked about whether he remembers his initial encounter with the 15-time major champion, the 35-year-old said he did – even if Tiger had no idea who he was at the time.
“Yeah, so I was – I’ve always had this tournament circled for the calendar when I knew I was going to get in. That was one of the highlights of the year was getting to come here and finish the year off in a really fun venue, a great event hosted by Tiger,” Spaun told reporters ahead of the Hero World Challenge.
“But yeah, it’s just, it’s one of those things where you always look forward to doing anything involved with Tiger Woods, honestly. You’re in good form if you’re rubbing shoulders with Tiger. But I remember my first time meeting Tiger in person was at Torrey Pines in 2017.
“It was my rookie year on Tour. I knew a mutual friend that knew Tiger well, and I was out walking the course while he was playing the pro-am. Because I was a rookie, I didn’t get in the pro-am. So it was cool to walk a couple holes with him, talk to him a little bit, get to know him.
“He was just a great guy and he had such a cool presence. He had no idea who I was, but he made me feel like he knew who I was.”
J.J. Spaun explains how Tiger Woods inspired him to play golf
Woods, who won his first Masters title nearly three decades ago, has left an indelible mark on the sport and shaped a new generation of players, including Rory McIlroy and Scheffler.
Growing up in Los Angeles, Spaun looked up to Woods from an early age. For him, the 49-year-old is the greatest to ever play the game.
“Tiger is the GOAT. He was the one that inspired my generation to take up the game, he made it fun, he made it exciting, he made it athletic, he made it powerful both on and off the course. He had the aura, he was him,” he began by saying.
“But I remember him battling Zach Johnson. I remember when he won again at Sherwood for the first time in a while. I just loved – we actually went out and watched a couple times growing up in L.A. to watch that tournament, and it was just so fun.
“Going back to even the Genesis Invitational at Riviera, I used to go to that tournament all the time growing up as a kid. A lot of what Tiger’s done in the L.A. community inspired me to chase the dream and try to compete at the highest level.
“You know, he still has that, you know, aura, that huge presence when he’s just on site, even if he’s competing or not, and it’s so good to see him doing well.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
