J.J. Spaun's FedEx St. Jude Heartbreak Eased by Ryder Cup Revelation

Newsweek

11-08-2025

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On Sunday, the final showdown at the FedEx St. Jude Championship had all the spectators hold their breath and shout in excitement as Justin Rose secured his 12th PGA Tour win at 45.
But for J.J. Spaun, it ended in heartbreak. Spaun tied Justin Rose at 16-under after carding 65 in the final round, capped by birdies on 16 and 17. The playoff was electric as both players missed birdie putts on the first extra hole, then traded birdies on the second.
JJ SPAUN FROM DOWNTOWN ON THE SECOND PLAYOFF HOLE… BANG. pic.twitter.com/NKVSE92Cm7 — Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) August 10, 2025
But on the third, the reigning U.S. Open champion came within inches of clinching his second win of the season, only to watch a 7-foot birdie putt slide past the cup on the third playoff hole at TPC Southwind.
On the other hand, Rose drained a 14-footer to grab a slice of $20 million pie.
"It sucks to miss a 7-footer," Spaun told reporters during the post-round conference. "Tricky read, and it pulled it a little bit. But yeah, I hung in there the best I could, and he beat me to the hole first. Just wasn't meant to be."
Yet amid the sting of defeat, Spaun didn't leave Memphis empty-handed.
Just an hour before the playoff began, Team USA's Ryder Cup social media team confirmed Spaun's automatic qualification for this year's battle at Bethpage Black in September.
"Welcome to the team, J.J. Spaun 🇺🇸 #GoUSA," read the post on X, accompanied by a snap of Spaun fist-pumping.
With this, the 34-year-old pro joins Scottie Scheffler as the second American to lock in his spot. His FedExCup performance this season, highlighted by his U.S. Open win and runner-up finishes at The Players and now St. Jude, placed him second in the Ryder Cup standings with 14638.91 points.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 10: J.J. Spaun reacts to a putt on the 18th hole during a playoff against Justin Rose of England during the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship 2025 at...
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 10: J.J. Spaun reacts to a putt on the 18th hole during a playoff against Justin Rose of England during the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship 2025 at TPC Southwind on August 10, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by) More
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Additionally, leaving TPC Southwind, Spaun walked away with a $2.16 million payday, 1,200 FedEx Cup points, a top-3 FedEx Cup standing, and a career-high world ranking of No. 8.
That means the two-time PGA Tour winner is now officially qualified for next week's BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club.
"I don't know what's gotten into me, honestly," Spaun stated after the heartbreak on Sunday. "I think I'm just content with what I've done in this game and now it's just kind of free rolling. Just trying to win, and I think that's a freeing mentality to have."
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