It happened. Justin Rose, at 45 years young, basically turned back the clock and reminded everyone that the "old guard" isn't going anywhere. If you were watching the pga fedex st jude leaderboard 2025 on that final Sunday at TPC Southwind, you know it wasn't just a golf tournament. It was a war of attrition. Memphis in August is basically a sauna, and by the time the leaders hit the back nine, the pressure was clearly cooking everyone.
Honesty? Nobody saw Rose coming. He was three strokes back with only a handful of holes left. Then, he just... ignited. Four straight birdies starting at the 14th hole. It was clinical. It was loud. It was the kind of run that makes you realize why some guys have major championships and others just have "potential."
The Final Drama: A Playoff for the Ages
When the dust settled after 72 holes, we had a deadlock. Rose and J.J. Spaun—the reigning U.S. Open champ who has been playing out of his mind lately—were tied at -16.
The playoff was pure chaos.
- First Playoff Hole: Both guys lipped out birdie putts. It was agonizing. You could hear the collective gasp from the gallery.
- Second Playoff Hole: Spaun drained a bomb. Rose, cool as you like, answered with a dart to five feet and matched him.
- Third Playoff Hole: This was the end. Rose stuck a wedge to 12 feet and buried the putt. Spaun couldn't respond.
Rose didn't just win a trophy; he banked a cool $3.6 million and vaulted himself into the top 5 of the FedEx Cup standings. It’s his first win since 2023, and it makes him the oldest postseason winner since Vijay Singh. That's not just a stat—it's a statement.
🔗 Read more: Men's Sophie Cunningham Jersey: Why This Specific Kit is Selling Out Everywhere
Tommy Fleetwood and the Heartbreak That Won't End
We have to talk about Tommy. It’s getting hard to watch, honestly. Tommy Fleetwood started the day with the lead. He looked like he was finally, finally going to break the curse and get that first PGA Tour win. But TPC Southwind is a cruel mistress.
He played some beautiful golf on the middle of the back nine, but the finish was a car wreck. A par on the reachable 16th was a missed opportunity, but the bogey on 17 was the dagger. He finished at -15, just one shot out of the playoff. That’s 29 top-five finishes now without a win. He’s earned over $30 million on tour without a trophy. It’s a record nobody wants, and you could see the "here we go again" look on his face in the post-round interview.
The Real Winners on the pga fedex st jude leaderboard 2025
While Rose took the hardware, the leaderboard tells several different stories about who’s hot heading into the BMW Championship.
- J.J. Spaun (-16): Even though he lost the playoff, he secured his spot on the Ryder Cup team. He’s officially a superstar now.
- Scottie Scheffler (-15): The world number one did this without his regular caddie, Ted Scott, who had to fly home for a family emergency. Chaplain Brad Payne stepped in. Finishing T3 under those circumstances is just further proof that Scottie is an alien.
- Rickie Fowler (-10): Rickie was the "bubble boy" story of the week. He needed a big finish to move on to the BMW, and he got it. His ball-striking was top-tier all week.
Why the 2025 Leaderboard Looked So Different
Usually, the St. Jude is a birdie-fest, but the 2025 setup felt more like a major. The rough was thick, and the greens were lightning. This favored the "mops"—the guys who scramble for pars and don't make mistakes.
💡 You might also like: Why Netball Girls Sri Lanka Are Quietly Dominating Asian Sports
| Player | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Rose | 64 | 66 | 67 | 67 | -16 |
| J.J. Spaun | 68 | 66 | 65 | 65 | -16 |
| Scottie Scheffler | 67 | 66 | 65 | 67 | -15 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | 63 | 64 | 69 | 69 | -15 |
| Cameron Young | 69 | 65 | 71 | 64 | -11 |
Cameron Young deserves a shout-out too. He fired a 64 on Sunday—the best round of the day alongside Spaun—to sneak into 5th place. It was a massive move for his FedEx Cup positioning.
What Most People Got Wrong About Memphis
A lot of "experts" thought Rory McIlroy's absence would take the air out of the tournament. Rory skipped this one to prep for the later legs. Honestly? It didn't matter. The leaderboard was so crowded on Sunday afternoon that you couldn't look away. At one point, there were seven guys within two shots of the lead.
The heat index was over 105 degrees. You saw guys like Ludvig Åberg (who finished T9) visibly struggling with the humidity. It was a test of fitness as much as it was golf. Rose mentioned afterward that he’s been working harder on his conditioning than he did in his 20s. It showed. While the younger kids were wilting, the 45-year-old was throwing darts.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Playoffs
If you're following the FedEx Cup, the pga fedex st jude leaderboard 2025 is the ultimate cheat sheet for what happens next.
📖 Related: Why Cumberland Valley Boys Basketball Dominates the Mid-Penn (and What’s Next)
- Watch the "Old Guys": Rose and Adam Scott (who also had a solid showing) proved that experience matters when the greens get crusty.
- The Spaun Factor: J.J. Spaun is no longer a "fluke" U.S. Open winner. He's a legitimate threat to win the whole FedEx Cup. His putting from 25+ feet is statistically the best on tour right now.
- The Fleetwood Pivot: Don't bet against Tommy yet. He’s going to break through eventually, and the courses for the BMW and Tour Championship actually suit his eye better than TPC Southwind.
Next stop is the BMW Championship in Maryland. The top 50 are set, and the "bubble" pressure only gets more intense from here.
Keep an eye on the updated FedEx Cup standings:
- Scottie Scheffler (Still the King)
- Rory McIlroy (Rested and ready)
- J.J. Spaun (The hot hand)
- Justin Rose (The veteran surge)
If you're looking to track the live movement as we head into the next round, check the official PGA Tour app for the real-time "points-as-it-stands" feature. It changes with every birdie. For now, Rose is the man of the hour, having reminded us that in golf, the clock moves a little slower for those who know how to close.
Your Next Steps:
Check the official BMW Championship field list to see which of your favorite players made the top 50 cut. If you're following specific players like Jordan Spieth or Rickie Fowler, look at their specific point gap—many are within one good round of making the Tour Championship.