Justin Rose delivered a stunning performance to claim the 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship, the opening leg of the PGA Tour’s FedExCup Playoffs, at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.

The 45-year-old Englishman outlasted U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun in a thrilling three-hole playoff, securing his 12th PGA Tour title and his first victory since the 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Rose’s triumph marked him as the oldest European to win on the PGA Tour in the modern era and propelled him from 25th to fourth in the FedExCup standings, ensuring his return to the Tour Championship for the first time since 2019.

Entering the final round one shot behind 54-hole leader, and fellow Englishman, Tommy Fleetwood, Rose faced a challenging start, dropping a shot at the 12th hole to fall to 12-under, three strokes off the lead.

Rose, however, ignited a sensational late charge, birdieing four consecutive holes from the 14th to the 17th. His rally began with a “perfect” 6-iron to 15 feet on the demanding par-3 14th, one of the toughest holes on the course, followed by a wedge to 9 feet on the 15th, an up-and-down from a bunker on the par-5 16th, and a 23-foot birdie putt on the 17th.

Rose narrowly missed a 13-foot birdie putt on the 18th that would have won the tournament in regulation, finishing with a 3-under 67 to tie Spaun at 16-under.

Spaun, who posted a final-round 65 with back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th, forced the playoff with Rose. The sudden-death playoff, played on the 18th hole, was a rollercoaster of drama. On the first playoff hole, Rose nearly drove into the water but recovered with a wedge to 13 feet, only for both players to miss their birdie putts.

On the second playoff hole, Spaun drained a 30-foot birdie putt, reminiscent of his U.S. Open heroics, but Rose answered with a clutch 7-footer to extend the battle. On the third playoff hole, with a new hole location cut on the 18th green, Rose struck a wedge to 14 feet and holed the birdie putt, while Spaun’s 7-foot attempt slid by, handing Rose the victory.

“That was an amazing last 90 minutes. I never stopped believing,” Rose said post-round. “I played unbelievable golf coming down the stretch and had so much fun with it.

“When I bring my best, I know I’m good enough to play against the best players in the world.”

Rose’s performance included six birdies in his final eight holes, showcasing his competitive fire and precision, with an eighth-place ranking in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green and seventh in Strokes Gained: Putting for the week.

The result was a tough pill to swallow for Fleetwood, who finished tied for third at 15-under with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Fleetwood, seeking his first PGA Tour win in his 162nd start, held a two-shot lead with three holes to play but faltered with a five on the par-5 16th and a bogey on the 17th after a poor shot and a missed 7-foot par putt. His final-round 69 left him one shot shy of the playoff, marking his 43rd top-10 finish on the PGA Tour without a victory, the most in the modern era.

“There’s a lot of positives to take, but it won’t feel like that right now,” Fleetwood said, vowing to keep pushing forward.

Scheffler, playing without his regular caddie Ted Scott due to a family emergency, carded a 67 to finish at 15-under, continuing his streak of 12 consecutive top-eight finishes. Despite burning the edges on several putts, he remained atop the FedExCup standings heading into the BMW Championship.

Other notable performances included Rickie Fowler, who tied for sixth at 10-under, securing his spot in the BMW Championship and all 2026 Signature Events, and Bud Cauley, who clinched a top-50 spot with a clutch bunker birdie on the 17th. Jordan Spieth, though, struggled, finishing 54th in the FedExCup standings after a water-bound shot on the 18th, ending his season and likely his Ryder Cup hopes.

Rose’s win, his 24th worldwide, also moved him back into the top 10 in the world rankings for the first time in five years and secured his seventh Ryder Cup appearance.

Reflecting on his longevity, Rose said, “I don’t want age to become too much of the story. I’m moving well, body feels good, training well. There could be a good run of golf still ahead.” His victory highlighted his meticulous preparation and ability to rise under pressure, setting the stage for a strong playoff run as the PGA Tour heads to the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club in Maryland this week.