FedEx St. Jude Championship: Fleetwood and Rose Battle for Win

Tommy Fleetwood eyes first PGA tour win at St. Jude Championship


Follow the thrilling conclusion of the FedEx St. Jude Championship as Tommy Fleetwood battles Justin Rose and Scottie Scheffler for the win.

“Tomorrow might be my day. It might not. But being there is the most important thing and I'll continue to try and do that...”


Tommy Fleetwood holds a narrow one-shot lead over fellow Englishman Justin Rose heading into the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Fleetwood carded a one-under par 69 on Saturday, finishing with a bogey, to stand at 14-under 196 after 54 holes at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.


The 34-year-old Englishman began the tournament with a scintillating 63 and followed up with a 64 in the second round, despite play being suspended due to bad weather. On Saturday, Fleetwood made the turn in level par but managed to add birdies on the 12th and 16th holes. Meanwhile, Rose closed the gap with a 67, including a birdie putt on the last hole.


Fleetwood, chasing his maiden PGA Tour title, expressed excitement about the opportunity, saying, “I'm just really excited for the opportunity.” With 42 top-10 finishes and two Ryder Cup titles, Fleetwood aims to break his duck and claim his first PGA Tour win.


*I've been really good off the tee, which is a strong quality around this golf course,” Fleetwood said. “At times you would get into a nice flow and feel comfortable with your routine.”


Justin Rose, the 2013 US Open champion and 2016 Olympic winner, carded a 67 with a birdie on the final hole, finishing with a total score of 197. However, current standings show Rose at 13-under par, tied with Tommy Fleetwood and Scottie Scheffler, not 197.


Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, shot a 5-under 65 on Saturday, highlighted by a blistering Strokes Gained: Putting performance. He stands tied with Fleetwood at 13-under par. J.J. Spaun and Andrew Novak are also in contention, though their exact positions may vary based on the final round's progression.


Current Leaderboard:

  • Tommy Fleetwood: 14-under par (one-shot lead)
  • Justin Rose: 13-under par (one shot behind)
  • Scottie Scheffler: 13-under par (two shots behind)
  • -J.J. Spaun: 14-under par (tied for lead or close behind)

The FedEx St. Jude Championship is heating up, with Fleetwood seeking his first PGA Tour win and Rose looking to capitalize on his experience. Scheffler's consistent performance keeps him in the mix, while Spaun's strong play could see him challenge for the title.


Tommy Fleetwood, a seasoned golfer with seven DP World Tour titles, is chasing his first PGA Tour win. He's made 162 starts on the PGA Tour and has a history of coming close, with six runner-up finishes, including a heartbreaking loss to Keegan Bradley at the Travelers Championship in June. Despite his near-misses, Fleetwood remains optimistic about his chances, having held a one-shot lead in the FedEx St. Jude Championship recently. His consistent performance this season, with five top-10 finishes in 14 starts, has boosted his Ryder Cup hopes, moving him to second place in the Team Europe standings.


“I would way rather be there and fail than not be there at all, so either way, it's a good thing,” Fleetwood said of his lack of a PGA title. “Yeah, it hurts when it doesn't happen for you and that sort of streak and people talk about it more and more. Obviously, it's not my favorite time.


“It has taken me a long time to win out here and I still haven't done it. The more I put myself there, the more chance there is of it happening and just go out and keep learning from every experience.


“Tomorrow might be my day. It might not. But being there is the most important thing and I'll continue to try and do that.”


Scottie Scheffler is chasing history as he attempts to become the first player to defend the playoff crown. Currently sitting in a tie for third place, Scheffler has a strong track record of performing well when in the top five after 54 holes, with four wins in five such events this year. As the Cup points leader, Scheffler is looking to capitalize on his momentum and make a move up the leaderboard.


Tommy Fleetwood grabbed the lead with a clutch 14-foot birdie putt at the 12th hole, taking him to 13-under par, tied with Scheffler and Justin Rose isn't two shots behind according to latest leaderboard. However, Rose fell two shots behind after bogeying the 14th hole, having missed the green at the par-three. The current leaderboard shows J.J. Spaun in the lead at 14-under, with Fleetwood, Rose, and Scheffler tied for second at 13-under.


Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood both birdied the par-five 16th hole, with Rose tapping in after reaching the green in two strokes, while Fleetwood sank a 14-foot putt. However, Rose's momentum was disrupted on the 17th hole, where he found the left rough off the tee, punched out shy of the green, and made bogey, falling three shots behind Fleetwood.


The battle for the lead is heating up, with Fleetwood seeking his first PGA Tour win and Rose chasing his 12th career victory. Scheffler's consistent performance keeps him in contention, and Spaun's strong play has him tied for the lead in some updates.


Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood both birdied the par-five 16th hole, with Rose tapping in after reaching the green in two strokes and Fleetwood sinking a 14-foot putt. However, Rose's fortunes took a turn on the 17th hole, where he found the left rough off the tee, punched out shy of the green, and made bogey, falling three shots behind Fleetwood.




In the final holes, Fleetwood struggled to reach the green at the 18th hole, needing three strokes, and then missed a 29-foot par putt, resulting in a bogey. Meanwhile, Rose capitalized on Fleetwood's mistake, sinking a birdie putt from just inside five feet to pull within one shot of Fleetwood's lead. The stage is set for a thrilling final round, with Fleetwood and Rose locked in a tight battle for the title.


Fleetwood's Early Stumble
Tommy Fleetwood's lead was significantly reduced when he stumbled early in the third round. Despite starting strong with a birdie at the second hole, Fleetwood's fortunes took a turn at the par-five third hole, where he found water with his second shot and a greenside bunker with his fourth, resulting in a double bogey.




Meanwhile, Justin Rose was in relentless pursuit, making a series of impressive birdie putts to close the gap. Rose sank a 16-foot birdie putt at the third hole, followed by a stunning 36-foot birdie putt at the fifth. He then added another birdie at the sixth hole with a tap-in after his approach landed mere inches from the hole, showcasing his skill and precision on the green.


Tommy Fleetwood's bogey at the seventh hole handed Justin Rose the solo lead, but Rose quickly responded with a birdie at the same hole. However, Rose's momentum was short-lived, as he found water at the ninth hole and made bogey, allowing Fleetwood to capitalize with a birdie at the ninth and tie for the lead.


BMW Championship Qualification and Advancement

  • Qualification: The top 70 players in the FedExCup standings qualified for the BMW Championship, with the top 50 advancing to the next event.
  • Advancement: The top 30 players after the BMW Championship will qualify for the Tour Championship, competing for the FedExCup title and a $25 million bonus.


The BMW Championship features a unique format, with no cut after two rounds, ensuring all 50 players compete through all four rounds. The tournament offers significant FedExCup points, with the winner earning 2,000 points, four times the amount of a standard event.






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