Justin Rose Wins FedEx St. Jude Championship In Thrilling Fashion

Justin Rose proved there is still plenty of gas left in his tank, ending weeks of speculation about his “form” by clinching the 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis. A three-hole, sudden-death playoff against 2025 U.S. Open champ J.J. Spaun wasn’t just a battle of skill. It was a test of grit, precision, and a whole lot of nerve. Rose delivered. 

A Battle Worth Watching

If you’ve been crying out for excitement in golf, this was the drama you ordered (and then some). Rose was practically clutching his 7-iron for dear life as he birdied six of his final eight regulation holes, clawing from the middle of the leaderboard into sudden-death territory. Notably, his four-birdie blitz from holes 14 through 17 was the stuff of highlight reels, featuring birdie putts from 15, 9, 6, and even 23 feet.

Spaun, refusing to fade quietly into the spotlight’s shadows, matched Rose’s flair with a series of steely birdies, forcing the playoff. But when it came down to their third playoff hole, there was no question. Rose buried his 12-footer like the machine he is, while Spaun missed his chance to extend the duel. Fans watching this showdown were reminded of two things: 1. Rose still has it, and 2. golf remains the sport of heartbreaks and nail-biters. Take your pick.

Tommy Fleetwood Falls Short Again

Heartbreaking as it is predictable, Tommy Fleetwood came into the back nine with the lead in hand, only to watch it tumble away with stumbles on the tricky stretch of 16 and 17. He is still looking for his first career win on the PGA Tour.

The Bigger Picture

At 45, Rose is the oldest winner on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson’s 2021 PGA Championship win. But wait, there’s more good news for fans of Rose. The win places him comfortably inside the FedEx Cup top five. Is Rose staking his claim as a dark horse entering the next playoff events? You betcha. But don’t pencil him in for victory just yet. If this tournament proved anything, it’s that everyone, from Spaun to Scottie Scheffler, is in great form.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 FedEx Cup continues to steamroll forward, and if the St. Jude Championship is anything to go by, the competition only gets fierier from here. With big names, quieter calamities, and a leaderboard that anyone might climb, the “reliable predictability” of golf is, well, finally unpredictable again.