The 45-year-old Englishman storms back from three shots down to win in playoff drama, as another PGA Tour victory slips through Fleetwood’s fingers in the cruelest fashion

When Justin Rose stood on the 14th tee Sunday afternoon, three shots behind Tommy Fleetwood and looking every bit like a spectator in someone else’s movie, something clicked. Maybe it was the Memphis heat. Maybe it was the playoff pressure cooker that is TPC Southwind. Or maybe it was just the competitive fire that burns differently when you’re 45 and wondering how many chances you have left.

What followed was pure Sunday golf theater. Rose birdied four straight holes from 14-17, rolling in putts from 15 feet, 9 feet, 6 feet, and a ridiculous 23-footer that had the Memphis crowd losing their minds. In the span of an hour, he went from afterthought to playoff participant, matching J.J. Spaun’s clubhouse lead at 16-under.

The Playoff That Had Everything

Rose and U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun battled through three sudden-death holes that showcased everything beautiful and brutal about golf. Both players had tournament-winning putts lip out on the first playoff hole—the kind of near-misses that haunt players for months. The second hole saw dueling birdies that extended the drama well past prime time.

It was on the third playoff hole where Rose finally broke through, draining a birdie from inside 12 feet to claim his first PGA Tour victory since 2023. At 45, he becomes the oldest winner on tour since Phil Mickelson’s 2021 PGA Championship heroics. The emotion was raw as Rose raised his hands to the Memphis sky—part relief, part vindication, all heart.

Tommy Fleetwood’s Cruel Déjà Vu

If you want to understand heartbreak in professional golf, study Tommy Fleetwood’s final hour Sunday. The Englishman led through 54 holes and was in complete control through the middle portion of his back nine. He made three birdies in four holes to seemingly put the tournament away. Then golf happened.

Standing on the par-5 16th with the tournament in his hands, Fleetwood managed only par when birdie was there for the taking. Worse yet, he found trouble on 17, carding a bogey that opened the door just wide enough for Rose to slip through. This marks Fleetwood’s sixth third-place finish on the PGA Tour—a stat that tells the story of a player who gets close enough to taste victory but can’t quite seal the deal.

J.J. Spaun’s Dream Season Continues

While falling short in the playoff stings, J.J. Spaun’s remarkable 2025 campaign rolls on. The 34-year-old, who had just one PGA Tour win before capturing the U.S. Open earlier this year, now sits third in the FedEx Cup standings behind only Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. His final-round 65, highlighted by birdies on two of his last three regulation holes, proved this is no fluke season. A Ryder Cup spot is now locked up, and the confidence that comes with major championship success is clearly flowing through every aspect of his game.

Playoff Picture Gets Clearer

The FedEx Cup Playoffs officially have their first casualty list. Jordan Spieth’s season ended in Memphis, falling from 48th to outside the top 50 and missing the BMW Championship cut. Meanwhile, players like Rickie Fowler breathed easier, securing not just a spot in Baltimore but qualification for all eight signature events next season.

The real drama now shifts to the bubble players like Xander Schauffele, who finds himself in serious danger of missing the Tour Championship despite his reputation as an East Lake specialist. With $80 million still up for grabs over the next two weeks, the pressure is just getting started.