Rose seals FedEx St Jude playoff victory

Justin Rose erased a late deficit to win the FedEx St Jude Championship in a playoff, securing a Ryder Cup berth and a return to the world top 10.

Justin Rose seals FedEx St Jude playoff victory

Justin Rose erased a three-shot deficit in the final five holes to force a playoff with J.J. Spaun at the FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis. The veteran finished with a 3-under 67 and closed with six birdies in eight holes, then birdied twice more in the playoff to capture his 24th career title and a spot back in the world’s top 10 at age 45. The day also cemented Rose’s status as one of golf’s most enduring competitors and reinforced his ability to rise under pressure.

Spaun, the U Open champion, matched Rose with a 65 to join the playoff and held a chance to win with a 20-foot birdie on the 17th in regulation and a 30-foot birdie on the second playoff hole. Fleetwood looked set for a PGA Tour title but stumbled on the closing holes, making bogey at 17 after a poor moment at 16, and finished one shot out of the playoff. Scottie Scheffler shot 67 to stay near the front while playing the final round without his regular caddie due to a family emergency, a reminder of how personal challenges ride alongside big sports moments. Bud Cauley clinched his FedExCup playoff berth with a clutch bunker shot at 17, signaling the ongoing drama of the season’s bubble sessions.

Rose’s comeback shows how experience and nerve can trump a late stumble from a younger field. The playoff format rewards the best rounds when it matters most, and Rose answered the bell with precision under pressure. For Spaun, the near-miss reaffirms the shift from a breakthrough season to consistency at the highest level, while Fleetwood’s missteps highlight how one or two bad swings can erase a strong week. The round also underscores the tour’s depth, with multiple players navigating personal and competitive pressures as the FedExCup landscape reshapes toward the playoffs.

The event doubles as a case study in momentum. Rose has now added a major marker to a late-career renaissance, while Ryder Cup momentum shifts with Spaun earning a first team berth and others jockeying for a similar spot. The week also underscored the emotional arc of modern golf where a single bad shot can erase a stretch of good play and turn a near-takeover into a moment of resilience for the next event.

Highlights

Momentum travels with a winner as the season moves forward.