Justin Rose delivers his reaction to fans chanting USA at him during the playoff against J.J. Spaun

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Justin Rose earned a massively important win at the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Sunday.

Rose became the first winner on the PGA Tour this season in his 40s, and he proved that age is very much just a number on day four at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

The 45-year-old Englishman looked out of the race when he bogeyed the 12th hole, but a run of four straight birdies from the 14th hole catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard.

He went on to defeat J.J. Spaun on the third playoff hole at TPC Southwind.

Spaun played imperious golf on Sunday at the St. Jude Championship, and at one point it looked like he would win his second PGA Tour event of the season, after his US Open triumph at Oakmont in June.

However, Rose had other ideas.

Interestingly, Rose suggested before the FedEx St Jude Championship started that playing no practice rounds would be an advantage for him come Sunday.

The Englishman was battling illness earlier in the week, but he battled through that to lift the trophy after a magnificent run of holes on his back nine.

Justin Rose reacts to fans chanting USA during playoff against J.J. Spaun

Rose was visibly delighted after securing the win in Memphis on Sunday.

Beating Spaun in the sudden-death playoff was a tall order. The US Open champion had the full support of the crowd, but Rose didn’t let that affect him.

The Englishman responded when asked to give his instant reaction after holing the winning putt on the 18th hole at TPC Southwind.

Rose said: “That was an amazing last 90 minutes really. It seemed to be the way it got this week. When I got myself a few back something good would happen. I never stopped believing. The six iron I hit into 14 was a clutch shot, back right pin, I had to hit the perfect golf shot in there. I got the birdie I needed to give myself a chance and played unbelievable golf coming down the stretch, had so much fun with it.

“18 was playing perfectly for me today. If I pulled it I carried it, so I hit a couple of good putts in regulation and then JJ dropped a bomb on me. It was a lot of fun. That’s why I practice and play. I have been playing well for some time, like at Augusta, when I bring my best I know I’m good enough to play and compete and to now win against the best players in the world, so a very gratifying day for me and a lot of hard work coming to fruition.“

Rose was then asked what he learned about himself on Sunday in Memphis.

He said: “I have always known I had that. I get nervous with the best of them, I feel nervous at times. But I know when it matters that I have still got it. I feel better and better and better as it gets more important, so that’s good to know.

“The hard stuff to practice is the hard stuff to teach and it’s nice to know that hasn’t left me at this age.
But I don’t want to keep saying that because I feel like I am moving well, the body is feeling good, I am training well. I feel like there could be a good run of golf still so I can’t let the age become too much of a story.

“Today is huge for me. Can’t wait to share it with Fooch. We have been through our ups and downs. He feels the good and the bad as much as I do.

“We kept it quite poised there, there was a lot of cheering for JJ and the USA and you have to respect where you are at but the Ryder Cup is round the corner so I completely understand but this will be a fun one for us to celebrate.“

Rose performed superbly well under pressure and in doing so, he will undoubtedly be on the European Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black in September.

The Englishman was definitely not the fan favourite during the playoff but he blocked everything out to seal his 12th win on the PGA Tour. Superb stuff.

Justin Rose’s stats at the FedEx St. Jude Championship

Rose produced some stunning golf down the stretch at TPC Southwind on Sunday.

However, his game was in tip-top shape pretty much all week long.

Here are his stats from the St. Jude Championship:

Rose proved on Sunday at the FedEx St. Jude Championship that he still has what it takes to compete at the very highest level of the game.

There are definitely more wins on the horizon for the Englishman.