It took sudden death and then some to decide the first of three PGA TOUR FedEx Cup Playoff events as Englishman Justin Rose held off J.J. Spaun for the trophy at the FedEx St Jude Classic Championship in Memphis.
45-year-old Rose birdied the third playoff hole to win the FedEx St Jude Classicers finished tied at 16-under par through four rounds at TPC Southwind. after both play.
“Played unbelievable golf coming down the stretch. I had so much fun with it. 18 was playing perfectly for me today. If I pulled it, I carried it, if I held it up — I hit a couple good putts in regulation and in the first playoff hole as well,” Rose said immediately after the win. “Obviously, J.J. dropped a bomb on me; I topped him. It was a lot of fun today.”
Rose, runner-up to Rory McIlroy at the Masters this year, is now the oldest TOUR winner since Phil Mickelson claimed the PGA Championship four years ago.
Justin Rose, 2025 FedEx St Jude Classic Champion
“That’s why I practice. That’s why I play. I’ve been saying for some time now, obviously Augusta, 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,” Rose added. “Very gratifying day for me and a lot of hard work coming to fruition.
In a battle of U.S. Open winners, Spaun shot 5-under 65 in the final round but missed a birdie putt on the third extra hole that would have prolonged the match.
“Yeah, it sucks to miss a seven-footer, but tricky read and pulled it a little bit. But yeah, I hung in there the best I could, and he beat me to the hole first,” Spaun said. “Just wasn’t meant to be.”
It’s win number 12 on TOUR for Rose, who won the U.S. Open in 2013, 12 years before Spaun did so at Oakmont this summer.
Third-round leader Tommy Fleetwood and Scottie Scheffler finished tied for third place at 15-under. Scheffler padded his FedEx Cup points lead while McIlroy, who skipped this event, retained second place in the standings. Spaun, Rose, and Sepp Straka round out the top five.
With the first playoff event delivering intense competition, the PGA TOUR has done a great job in dramatically elevating the significance of the chase for the FedEx Cup. Consider how a top 50 finish on Sunday guarantees a golfer a berth in every one of the eight Signature Events in 2026, featuring both double prize money and points, as well as entry into The Players Championship.
JT Poston’s tie for 22nd place Sunday secured the 50th and last spot, advancing him to the second playoff event, The BMW Championship, which will be staged this week in Maryland at Caves Valley in the Baltimore suburbs.
“You just know what’s at stake getting into that top 50 and what that does for your year next year, and you’re one good week from making it to East Lake,” Poston said after finishing 6-under for the week and minus two on Sunday. “It’s a big deal making it to the BMW…”
The top 30 from the BMW advance to Atlanta and the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in two weeks.
2025 FedEx St Jude Classic Results
1 – Justin Rose -16
2 – JJ Span -16
3 – Tommy Fleetwood -15
3 – Scottie Scheffler -15
5 – Cameron Young -11
