J.T. Poston claims his biggest win at the Memorial in sudden-death playoff

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The winner's handshake from Jack Nicklaus for the 50th Memorial Tournament belongs to J.T. Poston.

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"I knew I was going to shake Jack's hand walking off 18, and I wanted to be proud of that handshake regardless of how it turned out," Poston said. "So I'm thrilled it happened this way."

The 33-year-old Poston edged Ryan Gerard on Sunday with a par on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff to win The Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, a signature event, and the biggest title of his four career wins.

They returned to 18 and Poston had a chance to win it the first go-round, but missed an 8-foot birdie putt. He took care of business on the fourth time playing the hole during the day, and the 33rd hole of a marathon Sunday, when Gerard took three putts from 40 feet.

Poston entered the final round leading by four strokes but had fallen out of the lead by the 13th hole. He rebounded with birdies at 14 and 15 and saved par from 11 feet at 17. He stuck his approach at the last to 7 feet and canned the birdie putt to shoot even-par 72 and finish at 12-under 276. 

Gerard held a one-stroke lead after he buried a 37-foot birdie putt at 17, but had to gut out a 5-foot par putt at the last to force the playoff.

Poston played his last 13 holes in 3-under for a 69 to take the solo lead by four stokes. It marked the first time he has played consecutive rounds in the 60s at Muirfield Village in 27 career rounds

Poston had recorded only one top-25 result in seven prior appearances at the Memorial Tournament, a T-22 in 2024, and had only notched two top-25s in 13 starts this season, a T-21 at the Valero Texas Open and T-24 at the Truist Championship. He entered the week at No. No. 114 in the FedEx Cup season-long standings.

Poston surged into the lead with the round of the tournament, a 65 on Friday, when no one else shot better than 69. After dangerous weather stopped play on Saturday, Poston played his last 13 holes of the third round in 3-under for a 69. It marked the first time he had played consecutive rounds in the 60s at Muirfield Village in 27 career rounds.

Poston's victory also ensured a berth in the U.S. Open, meaning he won't have to play in Monday's 36-hole Final Qualifying.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: JT Poston wins the Memorial Tournament in playoff, shakes Jack's hand

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