MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Justin Rose made up a three-shot deficit over the past 5 holes in opposition to hard-luck Tommy Fleetwood, after which made two birdies in a playoff in opposition to U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun to win the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Sunday.
Rose delivered one other sterling efficiency, closing with a 3-under 67 for his twenty fourth victory worldwide that places him again into the highest 10 on the earth at age 45 and secures his spot in one other Ryder Cup.
He birdied 4 straight holes, and narrowly missed a 13-foot birdie putt on the 18th gap on the TPC Southwind for a win in regulation. Rose made six birdies over the past eight holes he performed, the final one a 10-foot putt on the 18th on the third playoff gap.
“An incredible final 90 minutes,” Rose mentioned. “I performed unbelievable golf down the stretch. After I deliver my greatest, I do know I am ok to play and to compete, and to now win in opposition to the very best gamers on the earth. Very gratifying day for me.”
Spaun confirmed loads of moxie. He made a 20-foot birdie putt on the seventeenth gap to tug right into a share of the lead and closed with a 65. He additionally made a 30-foot birdie putt on the second additional gap with Rose in tight.
“I hung in there the very best I might, and he beat me to the opening first. Simply wasn’t meant to be,” mentioned Spaun, who locked up a spot in his first Ryder Cup.
Misplaced in Rose’s outstanding rally was one other setback for Fleetwood, who has turn into a sympathetic determine in golf for shut calls and his graciousness in defeat. This seemed to be his time so as to add a PGA Tour title to his wins around the globe, particularly when his 35-foot birdie on the twelfth was the primary of three birdies in a four-hole stretch that gave him a two-shot lead with three to play.
However he hit pitch by way of the inexperienced on the par-5 sixteenth and needed to scramble for par. He was between golf equipment on the seventeenth, hit a poor shot and a worse par try from 7 toes for bogey. Needing birdie on the 18th to have an opportunity, he drove right into a bunker.
Fleetwood shot 69 and completed one shot out of the playoff together with Scottie Scheffler, who grazed the sting of so many putts on the again 9 and needed to accept a 67.
“There’s plenty of positives to take, as a lot as I will not really feel like that proper now. I am simply going to have a look at what I really feel like I might have completed and the way shut it was,” Fleetwood mentioned.
“All these experiences and these shut calls, like I say, there isn’t any level in permitting them to have a adverse impact on what occurs subsequent. What can be the purpose?” he mentioned. “It was an awesome week. I did a ton of excellent stuff, and as upset as I’m, I’ve to attempt to discover the energy to make all of it a optimistic expertise and hopefully subsequent time go once more.”
Scheffler has not completed worse than eighth place in his previous 12 tournaments relationship to March. He performed the ultimate spherical with out his common caddie, Ted Scott, who had an emergency household scenario in Louisiana.
Rose wasn’t the one participant leaving the TPC Southwind with a giant smile. Bud Cauley was on the bubble to complete within the high 50 within the FedEx Cup when he holed a bunker shot for birdie on the seventeenth gap and locked up his spot for the second spherical of the FedEx Cup playoffs subsequent week exterior Baltimore.
Rickie Fowler, who missed the postseason final 12 months, shot 69 to tie for sixth and advance to the BMW Championship. Others who moved into the highest 50 had been Kurt Kitayama, Jhonattan Vegas and J.T. Poston.
The highest 50 are assured of being in all of the $20 million signature occasions subsequent 12 months.
There was loads of motion across the bubble. Jordan Spieth by no means acquired on observe this week, completed with a shot within the water on the 18th and shot 68 to tie for thirty eighth to complete 54th. Chris Kirk was inside the highest 50 till he hit into the water on the fifteenth for bogey and didn’t birdie the par-5 sixteenth. A closing birdie left him at No. 51.
For all that was at stake, the very best drama was on the high, significantly with Rose. He performed within the remaining group with Fleetwood and was three photographs behind when Rose hit a 6-iron to only inside 15 toes for birdie on the par-3 14th. He adopted with two extra brief birdies, after which poured in a 15-footer on the seventeenth for his fourth in a row.
“That is going to be a enjoyable one for us to have a good time,” Rose mentioned.