Tommy Fleetwood says what he honestly thinks of Justin Rose after playing with him at the FedEx St Jude

Add as preferred source on Google

Justin Rose provided yet another emphatic reminder of his quality on Sunday as the Englishman beat J.J. Spaun in a playoff to win the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind.

If there was any doubt, Justin Rose has surely secured his ticket to the Ryder Cup at Bethpage in September. The 45-year-old secured his 12th PGA Tour victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship to move up to fourth in the standings with two playoff events left.

For much of Sunday at TPC Southwind, it seemed that the title would be decided between Tommy Fleetwood and Scottie Scheffler. But it was Rose and J.J. Spaun who forced their way through to set up a playoff in Memphis.

Rose birdied four of the last five holes to reach 16 under par for the week. And a second birdie on the third playoff hole was enough to overcome the US Open champion.

Tommy Fleetwood comments on Justin Rose after the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship

It would have been particularly agonising for Fleetwood to play alongside Rose and watch him find that next gear as he still awaits his first victory on the PGA Tour.

But Fleetwood showed incredible class with his reaction to Rose’s performance after the final round on Sunday.

“Yeah, he’s great, isn’t he. I love his dedication. I really do. I’ve always loved how he’s gone about the game. I’m an admirer of his career. I just happen to be very close to him, so I’m lucky that I get to spend a lot of time with him,” he said.

“Yeah, at 45 he’s not slowing down at all. He’s cracking on. He’s still very fit, very healthy, very motivated. I think, yeah, he’s a great person in golf to look up to.”

Justin Rose’s playoff record on the PGA Tour

Rose was making his sixth appearance in a playoff on the PGA Tour on Sunday. Unfortunately, his record is not the best considering his quality.

Of course, many will remember that it was Rose who lost out as Rory McIlroy secured sporting immortality at The Masters. And that was the second time that he had lost out in a playoff at Augusta National after Sergio Garcia‘s victory eight years ago.

He also lost out at The Memorial in 2015 and the BMW Championship three years later. In fact, this was Rose’s first playoff win on the PGA Tour since the 2014 Quicken Loans National.

But Rose is potentially playing almost as well as he ever has right now. He seems to have an immense understanding of his game. And that allowed him to beat another of the most impressive players on the PGA Tour this year on Sunday.