Justin Rose Triumphs at FedEx St. Jude Championship with Stunning Comeback

Memphis, US, Aug 11 (AP) - Justin Rose staged an impressive comeback to seize victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, overcoming Tommy Fleetwood’s lead in the final stretch and outperforming U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun in a tense playoff. With the triumph, Rose notched his 24th career win worldwide, re-entering the top 10 in global rankings at age 45 and securing his place in the Ryder Cup once more.

Rose showcased remarkable skill by stringing together four consecutive birdies, narrowly missing a 13-foot birdie putt on his final regulation hole. Nevertheless, he concluded with a splendid 3-under 67, ultimately claiming victory with a decisive 10-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole against Spaun.

"An amazing last 90 minutes," Rose reflected. "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."

Spaun, displaying tenacity himself, managed a 20-foot birdie on the 17th to share the lead, then finished with a 65. Even as Rose delivered a 30-foot birdie on the second playoff hole with Spaun positioned well, it wasn’t enough to clinch victory. "I hung in there the best I could, and he beat me to the hole first. Just wasn't meant to be," said Spaun, who qualified for his first Ryder Cup.

Tommy Fleetwood, who has faced multiple near-misses, endured another heartbreaker. A promising position dissolved with missteps, including a drive into a bunker on the 18th, missing the playoff by one shot alongside Scottie Scheffler, who also experienced frustration as key putts narrowly missed.

“There's a lot of positives to take, as much as I won't feel like that right now,” Fleetwood remarked. “I'm just going to look at what I feel like I could have done and how close it was... 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."

Scheffler, who consistently finishes strong, placed eighth despite the absence of his regular caddie due to a family emergency.

Amid the drama, Bud Cauley celebrated securing his spot in the next round of the FedEx Cup playoffs with a fortuitous birdie from a bunker on the 17th. Rickie Fowler also advanced to the BMW Championship, while Kurt Kitayama, Jhonattan Vegas, and J.T. Poston made it into the top 50.

The tournament concluded with a flurry of movement, with performances both securing positions and missing out. Jordan Spieth and Chris Kirk fell short of making the top 50, despite Spieth’s attempts ending with a challenging shot in the water and Kirk’s struggles on the final holes.

Ultimately, Rose's dramatic play in the final group, featuring critical shots like his 6-iron to a close 15 feet on the par-3 14th, underscored his triumph. Reflecting on the win, Rose remarked, "This is going to be a fun one for us to celebrate."

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