Memorial Tournament: JT Poston defeats Ryan Gerard on second playoff hole after Tommy Fleetwood goes close on final day | Golf News
JT Poston defeated Ryan Gerard in a playoff to win the Memorial Championship after a thrilling final round in Ohio on Sunday evening.
54-hole leader Poston claimed the biggest win of his career at the second round of play after Gerard missed a tricky six-footer to keep the tournament alive.
Poston had previously recovered on holes 12 and 13 to birdie three of the final five holes – including a clutch seven-foot putt on the 18th after a perfect shot – to take the tournament into a playoff.
He produced the same impressive technique to make an eight-foot birdie putt for victory on the first playoff hole, but changed his lines.
However, on the second extra hole it was Gerard’s chance to miss a crucial putt and Poston made no mistake from three feet to secure victory, a $4million winner’s check and a place in next month’s Open Championship.
Speaking after his victory at the event founded by Jack Nicklaus, Poston said: “That was a lot of holes and it was very bad.
“I didn’t play very well the first 13 holes but I knew I was going to shake Jack Nicklaus’ hand from the 18th green and I wanted to be proud of that handshake, no matter how it turned out.
“I’m glad it happened this way.”
How Poston saw Fleetwood, Clark and others
Poston went into the final round with a four-goal lead, which they built early on Sunday when the players returned to complete the third round which was halted when storms hit the field on Saturday evening.
Poston reeled off three straight birdies to go 12 under on the third par, but that form left him in the final round as he posted four bogeys in the first 13 holes.
That allowed the chasing pack to close as Tommy Fleetwood, Wyndham Clark and Sam Burns all contested the lead with Gerard and Poston in the closing stages playing for control.
Fleetwood had moved into the lead with a brilliant eagle on the 15th, but a bogey on the 17th – where he failed to find the fairway – saw his hopes dashed.
The Englishman finished 10 under par for fourth place after a final round of 68.
He shared that spot with Burns, who saw a monster putt fall woefully short to save the 17th, effectively ending his hopes.
Clark was five under in the final round to finish one shot behind Poston and Gerard in solo third.
Ryan Gerard celebrates a huge putt on the 17th that saw him take the lead at the Memorial
Gerard started the final round four shots behind partner Poston, but picked up five birdies on Sunday afternoon including a stunning 37-foot putt on 17 to move ahead and appear within touching distance.
However, he couldn’t hit a shot on the 18th in regulation or more than two holes to play and will leave Ohio frustrated.
That left the door open for Poston to seek his fourth PGA Tour victory and his first since 2024.
Earlier, Scottie Scheffler, who was trying to match Tiger Woods by winning the Memorial three years in a row, started the final round nine shots behind and carded two birdies and a bogey to finish at 4-under for the tournament.
That score was compared to Rory McIlroy, who was out of contention after the first three days, but opened his final round in spectacular fashion.
He produced birdies on five of the first six holes before seeing his momentum halted by a bogey at the seventh. He finished the day at 4-under-par and joined Scheffler, Justin Rose, JJ Spaun and Adam Scott in a tie for 12th.
What’s next?
The PGA Tour heads to Toronto for the RBC Canadian Open at Osprey Valley where Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose and defending champion Ryan Fox are in the field. Early coverage begins on Thursday June 11 from 12pm on Sky Sports Golf.
More golf live on Sky Sports next week includes the LPGA Tour’s Dow Championship and the Curtis Cup, as Great Britain and Ireland’s top ladies take on the USA. Get Sky Sports or stream without a contract.
Find the best prices and book a round at one of 1,700 courses in the UK and Ireland
