Justin Rose beat J.J. Spaun in a thrilling play-off to win the FedEx St. Jude Championship and claim his 12th PGA TOUR title.
The Englishman produced a stunning late rally as he made four birdies in a row to make up a three-shot deficit with five holes to play, missing a chance at the 18th to win in regulation play.
Both Rose and U.S. Open champion Spaun made par on the first trip back up the 18th at TPC Southwind in Memphis, before exchanging birdies on their second.
With Spaun nearest the pin in two at the third visit, Rose held his nerve to increase the pressure with another impressive birdie, which his American opponent was unable to match.
At 45, Rose becomes the oldest European to win on the PGA TOUR in the modern era, with this his first success on the US-based tour since the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February 2023.
“An amazing last 90 minutes,” Rose said. “I played unbelievable golf down the stretch.
“When I bring my best, I know I’m good enough to play and to compete, and to now win against the best players in the world. Very gratifying day for me.”
On an absorbing final day, Tommy Fleetwood and World Number One Scottie Scheffler were also in the mix to win, with the pair finishing one shot behind in a tie for third at the first of three events that form the FedExCup PlayOffs.
Fleetwood, who held a one-shot lead heading into the final round, appeared on track to claim a long-awaited first PGA TOUR title when he held a two-shot lead with three to play.
But after scrambling for a par at the par five 16th, he bogeyed the penultimate hole after coming up short with his approach and then found a bunker off the tee when requiring a birdie to have a chance.
“There’s a lot of positives to take, as much as I won’t feel like that right now," said Fleetwood after his sixth runner-up finish on the PGA TOUR. "I’m just going to look at what I feel like I could have done and how close it was.
“All these experiences and these close calls, like I say, there’s no point in allowing them to have a negative effect on what happens next. What would be the point?” he said.
“It was a great week. I did a ton of good stuff, and as disappointed as I am, I have to try to find the strength to make it all a positive experience and hopefully next time go again.”
Rose and Fleetwood are both set to be a part of Europe’s Ryder Cup team at Bethpage next month, with the English duo sitting second and third respectively in the qualification standings.
Rose is the sixth different European winner on the PGA TOUR this season, after Sepp Straka, Rory McIlroy, Thomas Detry, Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland.
