From skateboarding to the Ryder Cup: J.J. Spaun’s unlikely leap to Bethpage Black

J.J. Spaun’s Ryder Cup berth stands out as one of the most unlikely stories on the U.S. squad heading to Bethpage Black this week. The 12-man team features veterans and newcomers, but Spaun’s ascent has drawn attention for its unusual origin. A New York Post profile recounts how Spaun tapped into a skateboarding 'superpower'—a mindset that helped him loosen pressure and improvise through rounds with surprising ease.

Before 2025, Spaun’s goals were simple: keep his PGA Tour card and maintain his playing status. Winning a major or earning a Ryder Cup berth appeared distant, and he spent years in a cycle of fighting to stay on the tour. That framework began to shift as his results improved enough to land him a place on the U.S. Ryder Cup team for Bethpage Black.

Spaun’s ascent has become one of golf’s standout late-blooming stories. Observers describe the change as less about a single breakthrough and more about a sustained, evolving approach that blends competitive grit with an unconventional source of confidence.

The Ryder Cup narrative often reflects how captain’s selections and automatic qualifiers combine to form the 12-player roster. Spaun’s inclusion illustrates that resilience and continued progress can earn a seat at the table even when earlier milestones seemed out of reach.

Bethpage Black, a test of precision and patience, provides a demanding stage for the biennial competition. Spaun’s background—rooted in an attitude learned away from the scoreboard—adds a human dimension to the event as the United States aims to reclaim momentum against Europe.

As Bethpage opens to the Ryder Cup crowd, Spaun will seek to translate practice-room improvements into competitive rounds under pressure. His journey—from a player focused on simply preserving status to a Ryder Cup competitor representing his country—reflects a broader truth about professional golf: second acts can arrive late and still reshape a career.