A major winner explained how he was able to shoot 64 in the first round of the St. Jude Championship despite battling through illness.
The St. Jude Championship is the first round of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, and it’s a crucial event for many. The top 70 golfers in the world qualify for the event at TPC Southwind, and the top 50 will progress to the next round at the BMW Championship.
Only 69 golfers will play in Memphis, after Rory McIlroy decided to skip the event as he prepares for the Ryder Cup. McIlroy is second in the standings and isn’t risking not making it though.
But this major winner, who started the tournament 12 in the standings, decided to fight through illness to compete at the St. Jude Championship.
Justin Rose shoots 64 while battling through illness at the FedEx St. Jude Championship
2013 U.S. Open winner Justin Rose, who lost a playoff at the 2025 Masters to Rory McIlroy to finish second, explained how he was able to fight through illness and shoot five under par during the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
The Englishman said, “Monday night and Tuesday I really wasn’t feeling great. In some ways, even though it’s completely redone this year, I feel like the course is one that you know how to play.”
TPC Southwind was renovated prior to the event. The greens are brand new and much faster, and the course is 50 yards longer after the most comprehensive update to the course since 1998.
Rose continued, “There’s certain holes you have to play in certain positions. I felt like I know how to get around this golf course without having played it, so that was good.
“I think the greens are sort of new for everybody this year, so it’s not like I’ve suffered on the learning side of things. There’s very subtle breaks, it’s very hard to learn them at the moment. I don’t really think there was much of a detriment to not having played much practice rounds this week.
“Maybe come Sunday it’s a good thing. Less time in the heat!”
Justin Rose hopes for automatic qualification for the Ryder Cup
For every top player this year, one eye is on the Ryder Cup. Cameron Young said his first PGA Tour victory wasn’t as important to him as making the U.S. Ryder Cup team, as the USA hopes to avenge their humiliation against Europe in Rome.
Captains of both Europe and USA face difficult decisions ahead of the Ryder Cup, but Rose hopes to take his Ryder Cup future out of Europe captain Luke Donald’s hands.
He said, “You always wanna show form. I can still qualify for the team by right which would always be nice. I’m in eighth position, I’d like to be top six top not have to rely on a pick. I feel like I’m in a good spot.
“I’m not really putting pressure on myself with the Ryder Cup. I feel like that’s never the way to play well. I’m not really thinking about that at all if I’m honest.”
Sorry Justin, but that’s hard to believe. The man who said he’s not thinking about the Ryder Cup also can provide his ranking at a moment’s notice? Rose is right, he’s eighth. 200 points behind Austrian Sepp Straka who holds the final automatic qualification spot in sixth.
Rose was a captain’s pick in 2023, as Europe demolished the USA in Rome. U.S. captain Keegan Bradley said anyone outside the top six can’t expect to be selected, so if the same logic applies to Europe, Rose needs to close out the month with good performances.