Justin Rose Claims Dramatic FedEx St. Jude Championship Victory in Playoff Thriller

Justin Rose has secured a thrilling victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first playoff event of the FedEx Cup, after a captivating three-hole playoff with J.J. Spaun. The experienced Englishman showcased nerves of steel, culminating in a birdie on the final hole to clinch his first tour win since February 2023.

A Tense finish at TPC Southwind

The final round at TPC Southwind was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts, with several players vying for the lead. Tommy Fleetwood appeared poised for victory, holding a slender advantage heading into the 71st hole. However, a costly bogey on the 17th opened the door for Rose and Spaun, who both finished on 15-under-par, forcing a playoff.

Rose and Spaun traded remarkable shots throughout the extra holes. Rose initially landed his approach shot inside Spaun’s effort, but the drama was far from over. Spaun responded with a stunning long-range birdie putt,piling the pressure on his opponent. Rose, however, matched his competitor’s brilliance, keeping his hopes alive.The decisive moment arrived on the third and final playoff hole. Rose calmly sank a birdie three, while Spaun could only manage a par four, despite a more precise approach shot. The winning putt, a nerveless downhill left-to-right breaker, was Rose’s sixth birdie in the last eight holes of the tournament.

“That was an amazing last 90 minutes. I never stopped believing,” Rose said in his post-round interview. “I played remarkable golf coming down the stretch and had so much fun with it. JJ dropped a bomb on me (at the second extra hole),it was a lot of fun.” He added with confidence, “When I bring my best I know I’m good enough to play against the best players in the world. This is going to be a fun one for us to celebrate.”

Fleetwood Falls Short, Scheffler Remains in FedEx Cup Lead

Fleetwood’s near-miss continues his frustrating wait for a first victory on US soil. Despite a strong showing, playing the weekend at a combined two-under-par, the bogey on 17 proved decisive. It was another agonizing defeat for the popular Englishman.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished just one shot out of the playoff, carding a final-round 67 to finish at 15-under. He recorded five birdies and two bogeys in a consistent performance, marking his fourth consecutive round in the 60s. Despite missing out on the playoff, Scheffler maintains his lead in the season-long FedEx Cup race with two events remaining.

Lowry Slides in FedEx Cup Standings

Shane Lowry endured a frustrating final round, shooting a 71 to finish in a tie for 59th place at three-over-par. A arduous finish, with three bogeys in the last four holes, saw him slide outside the top 20 in the FedEx Cup standings. He will need a strong performance at the BMW Championship at Caves Valley next week, where Rory McIlroy is also scheduled to make his return following the Open Championship.

CLUTCH.@JustinRose99 birdies the third playoff hole to win the first playoff event @FedExChamp. pic.twitter.com/LCxB3kWL4U

– PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 10, 2025

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