Imagine a professional athlete who trades in their glamorous lifestyle for a roll of packing tape and a pile of Amazon boxes during the offseason. That’s J.J. Spaun for you—a golfer who’s as relatable as they come. But here’s where it gets intriguing: while most athletes are cloaked in mystique, Spaun’s off-course life is refreshingly ordinary, and it’s this very humanity that makes his story so compelling.
This week, Spaun tees it up at the Hero World Challenge in Nassau, Bahamas, marking his first competitive start in a month and just his second since the Ryder Cup. During his time away from the course, he embraced the kind of downtime many of us can relate to. 'Hanging out with my family, being a good dad, and tackling those long-overdue home projects,' Spaun shared. 'It’s been very chill.'
And this is the part most people miss: Spaun’s offseason wasn’t spent in luxury retreats or exotic locales. Instead, he was knee-deep in the mundane—organizing his garage, adding storage, and laying a new floor. 'I felt so accomplished,' he laughed. But the most relatable moment? His admitted pet peeve: breaking down Amazon boxes. 'Dude,' he smiled, 'that’s what’s been taking up my time.'
Yet, if his opening round at Albany is any indication, Spaun’s break hasn’t dulled his edge. He fired a 6-under 66 to grab a share of the Day 1 lead at Tiger Woods’ prestigious event, tying with heavyweights like world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Akshay Bhatia, Sepp Straka, and Wyndham Clark. Keegan Bradley, his Ryder Cup captain, and Corey Conners trail by just a shot.
Here’s the controversial part: Spaun’s approach to the offseason—stepping away from golf entirely for two weeks after the Ryder Cup—flies in the face of conventional wisdom. Should athletes prioritize rest over relentless practice? Spaun’s performance suggests it might not be such a bad idea. 'I didn’t touch a club,' he admitted. 'I just tried not to overthink mechanics or swing stuff. Once the bell rang, I knew I’d be okay.'
This year has been a whirlwind for Spaun. He won his first major at the U.S. Open, lost a playoff to Rory McIlroy at The Players, competed in his first Ryder Cup, and finished in the top 30 on the season-ending points list for the first time in nine seasons. His debut at Woods’ invitational is a testament to how far he’s come in just 12 months.
'I was in England this time last year,' Spaun reflected. 'After the Ryder Cup, it was the perfect time to decompress, to really soak in everything I’ve accomplished. It was good to chill out and reflect on the year.'
Now, here’s the question that’ll spark debate: Is Spaun’s laid-back approach to the offseason a recipe for success, or just a lucky break? Let us know in the comments—do you think athletes benefit more from rest or relentless practice? One thing’s for sure: Spaun’s journey from Amazon boxes to the top of the leaderboard is a story that’s hard not to root for.
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