ST. LOUIS — J.J. Spaun’s 36th birthday should be one he’ll remember.
The 2025 U.S. Open winner rattled off four straight birdies on his front nine, sparking a 4-under 66 on Friday at Bellerive Country Club that left him, at the time, alone atop a crowded leaderboard.
A day that ended in celebration for Spaun began in a very similar spirit — even if a tad earlier than Dad would have preferred on a tournament day.
“My girls got up early and they were so happy to tell me, Happy Birthday. They blew up a bunch of balloons,” said Spaun. “I jokingly told my daughter I wanted a ‘Toy Story’-themed birthday, so they brought some stuff, and it’s been fun.”
Spaun’s front-nine 30 helped break up a five-way tie atop the leaderboard at the sun-soaked BMW Championship.
Like first round co-leader Gary Woodland, Spaun was mistake-free through 17 holes on Thursday only to bogey the par-4 18th.
He found redemption on that very hole on Friday, with a birdie that moved him into the solo lead at 10 under and helped him regain a little bit of lost momentum following back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 14 and 15.
“That was a nice way to end the day — kind of hit a little rough patch on 14, 15 with a poor three-putt and a poor second shot on 14,” Spaun admitted. “But that’s golf, it happens. It was good to hit a really good drive — I didn’t think I could reach that bunker, the wind has just been everywhere bouncing north and south and from the west. But, yeah, to hit a nice little iron shot out of the bunker to about 5, 6 feet and pour it in was a good way to stop the bleeding and end a good round.”
Something about the front nine at Bellerive suits Spaun a bit more than the back. He recorded three consecutive birdies before making the turn in his first round. On Friday, he did one better — circling four straight holes, Nos. 3 through 6.
“Wasn’t really thinking much,” said Spaun, who credited being in a great mental space heading over to the course. “I kind of did something similar yesterday. I made like three birdies in a row. … hitting more quality shots and having more opportunities and then the putter’s been cooperating really well these first two rounds, so birdies were flying early.”
Crowded leaderboard
Rory McIlroy also grabbed a share of the lead Thursday but failed to keep pace a day later.
The world’s No. 2-ranked player is five shots off Wyndham Clark’s current lead after carding a 1-under 69 on Friday.
Clark and Chris Gotterup also shared the lead after 18 holes. Gotterup had an up-and-down front-nine 35 and sits T-4 after getting into the clubhouse with a 3-under 67, thanks to a spree of birdies between holes No. 11 and No. 13.
Clark took the solo lead late on Friday, completing 36 holes of bogey-free golf to enter the weekend at 12 under — one shot ahead of Woodland, two in front of Spaun.
While not part of the five-player lead Thursday, Sungjae Im is also sitting T-4 with Gotterup.
Im was No. 40 in FedExCup points ahead of the BMW, and is now projected to make the field at East Lake.
A look at the bubble
Michael Thorbjornsen and Patrick Cantlay were the clubhouse leaders at 8 under until Spaun completed his round.
Both Thorbjornsen and Cantlay are battling to make it to the Tour Championship at East Lake. Thorbjornsen ranks 41st in FedExCup points, while Cantlay sits 43rd entering the week. Each carded a 4-under 66 on Friday at Bellerive.
Thorbjornsen and Cantlay are both currently projected to finish right on the top 30 bubble. Thorbjornsen is projected at No. 30, with Cantlay a spot behind him at No. 31 — the proverbial last man out, if the BMW were to conclude right now.
“I would say almost regardless of where I’m at — top of the FedExCup or on the bubble, I don’t really think about it,” said Cantlay, whose six birdies on the back nine led to the day’s only other 30. “I definitely know the best way to move up that board is to play well this week and so I just put all my attention there.”
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