J.T. Poston wins Memorial Tournament after dramatic playoff victory over Ryan Gerard
American secures fourth PGA Tour title after birdie at the 72nd hole forces playoff and Ryan Gerard three-putts decisive second extra hole.
Position | Player | Score | R4 |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | J.T. Poston (won playoff) | -12 | 72 |
2 | Ryan Gerard | -12 | 68 |
3 | Wyndham Clark | -11 | 67 |
T4 | Tommy Fleetwood | -10 | 68 |
T4 | Sam Burns | -10 | 69 |
J.T. Poston overcame a nervy final-round wobble before defeating Ryan Gerard in a playoff to secure the biggest victory of his PGA Tour career at the Memorial Tournament.
Starting Sunday with a four-shot advantage at Muirfield Village, Poston looked in complete control before three bogeys in a five-hole stretch from the ninth saw his lead disappear and left him trailing for the first time all day.
But the 33-year-old responded when it mattered most.
Poston produced a clutch birdie at the 72nd hole to finish 12-under par and force a playoff with Gerard.
It was a fitting twist in a marathon final day that saw the pair play 33 holes together after the third round was suspended on Saturday evening and completed early Sunday morning.
The American duo returned to the par-4 18th for the first playoff hole and both made pars.
Back on the same hole moments later, Gerard's challenge unravelled when he three-putted from around 60 feet and then missed a six-foot putt for par.
That opened the door for Poston, who calmly rolled in a three-footer to seal his fourth PGA Tour title and the most significant win of his career.
The victory completes a remarkable turnaround for Poston, who arrived at the Memorial without a single top-20 finish this season.
Poston leaves Jack Nicklaus' signature event with the winner's cheque worth $4 million and exemptions into both the U.S. Open and The Open this summer.
The win also marked his first since October 2024.
"That took a lot of grit," Poston told CBS' Amanda Balionis on the 18th green.
"Obviously didn't play my best for the first 12 or 13 holes today, but I told myself I wanted to be proud shaking Jack's hand on 18 regardless of how things turned out. I'm thrilled it happened this way.
"This has taken a lot of hard work. A lot of people have believed in me when maybe I didn't believe in myself, starting with my wife. My coach, my family, my caddie – so many people to thank. It's hard to believe, honestly. I didn't play my best today, but I felt like my game was trending."
Wyndham Clark mounted the strongest charge of the day with a five-under-par 67 to finish alone in third at 11-under, just one shot shy of the playoff.
Tommy Fleetwood rallied late in the day with a 68 to share fourth place alongside Sam Burns at 10-under par.
Further down the leaderboard, Rory McIlroy bounced back with a 68 to climb into a tie for 12th at four-under overall alongside defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who closed with a 71.
For Poston, the result represents far more than a fourth PGA Tour victory. It is a career-defining breakthrough at one of the Tour's most prestigious events and a timely reminder that form can turn around quickly in professional golf.
Andy Roberts first joined GolfMagic on a month's work experience back in April 2011.
Andy then assumed the role of GolfMagic Editor in 2015.
