Having opened up a four-shot lead at the Memorial Tournament after completing his third round on Sunday morning, JT Poston looked firmly in control. However, no one could have predicted the drama that was to unfold.
In fact, for much of the final round at Muirfield Village, it looked as though Poston had lost grip on proceedings as several more contenders saw the chance of victory.
In the end, it all worked out well for the American, but not before a two-hole playoff with Ryan Gerard, who himself had looked like winning as late as the 72nd hole.
The signs that the afternoon wouldn't see Poston ease to a relatively straightforward victory were there from the third hole with his first bogey of the round.
However, a birdie at the sixth would have steadied his nerves, before another bogey at the ninth meant that, combined with a fast start from Sam Burns, his four-shot lead had become one as he headed to the 10th.
Soon, Wyndham Clark joined Burns with a birdie at 11, with Gerard the next to move into a tie for second by matching Clark at the same hole.
Clark suffered a setback with a bogey at 12. However, before long, he was back within one of the lead, but only because Poston's wobbles continued with his own bogey at the 12th.
That meant Poston, from a commanding position at the start of the round, now shared his lead at 10 under with Burns.
It soon got even worse for Poston, with some erratic play at the 13th resulting in yet another bogey - his fourth of the round - and dropping into a tie for second.
Anyone would be forgiven for thinking that Poston's chance had all but slipped away, such was the rut he found himself in, but, needing a kickstart, he found one at 14 when he rolled in an 18-foot putt for birdie to tie the lead again.
To add to the drama, Tommy Fleetwood, who had been in the chasing pack throughout, entered the equation with a stunning approach at the par-5 15th from 240 yards to leave him five feet for an eagle and the solo lead. He made it and suddenly all eyes were on him.
239 yards to 4 feet 🎯Tommy Fleetwood has the lead to himself with this eagle @MemorialGolf.📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/o7U8z3R0xUJune 7, 2026
Any thoughts Fleetwood would ease to victory from there were soon tempered when the final group of Burns, Poston and Gerard, all one back, birdied the 15th, and just like that, there was a four-way tie at the top.
Not to be left out, Clark, in the penultimate group along with Fleetwood and Eric Cole, soon made that five with a birdie at the 16th.
It couldn't stay like that, could it? We soon had an answer as Fleetwood found trouble at the 17th, resulting in a bogey despite a valiant effort to save par from a greenside bunker.
A four-way tie for the lead soon became three in bizarre circumstances, when Burns's second at the par-4 17th landed on a bridge. He found the green with his third, but it left him too much to do and, like Fleetwood, he also made a bogey at the worst possible moment.
That left Poston, Clark and Gerard out in front, and it was the latter who seized the initiative with a brilliant birdie from 37 feet at the 17th to move to 12 under and into the solo lead with one to play.
RYAN GERARD! 37 feet to take the solo lead and it's LOUD at @MemorialGolf!📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/jBEZ1rEq0RJune 7, 2026
Gerard left a similar distance for a birdie at the 18th, but this time, he put too much into it, and it sped past. Meanwhile, Poston had less than eight feet for his birdie. He made it to co-lead with Gerard.
With all the pressure heaped on Gerard to make his par from five feet, he was up to the task, and that sent him into a playoff with Poston, minutes after he was dreaming of winning in regulation.
After Poston and Gerard headed back to the 18th tee box, both made the green in regulation, although Poston's was considerably closer to the pin. However, after Gerard failed to convert for birdie, so did Poston, leaving them both to settle for par.
Back to the tee they went and, after both found the rough from their tee shots on the second extra hole, it was Poston who again landed his approach closest to the hole.
When both missed their birdie putts, it was left to Gerard to go first to save par. It drifted agonizingly right, and yet again Poston had the chance to clinch it.
Three-and-a-half feet stood between him and the $4m first prize and a handshake from tournament host Jack Nicklaus. He made it and JT Poston, after a draining and exhilarating afternoon, had his first Signature Event title.
Afterwards, Poston admitted he'd made hard work of it before getting the job done, saying: "A lot of holes, a lot of grit.
"Obviously didn't play my best first 12, 13 holes, but I told myself I wanted to - 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. So I'm thrilled it happened this way."
"I knew I was gonna shake Jack's hand walking off 18 and I wanted to be proud of that handshake."J.T. Poston prevails at @MemorialGolf 🏆 pic.twitter.com/J2T0kcUge7June 7, 2026
Thanks to Poston's finish of T1 in regulation, he also booked his place in The Open because of the Memorial Tournament's status as one of the events in The Open Qualifying Series.
The victory also meant he has a spot at the US Open without needing to go through another grueling rollercoaster in Golf's Longest Day on Monday, completing the perfect week for the star.
The Memorial Tournament Leaderboard
- T1 -12 JT Poston - won playoff
- T1 -12 Ryan Gerard
- 3rd -11 Wyndham Clark
- T4 -10 Tommy Fleetwood
- T4 -10 Sam Burns
- T6 -8 Alex Fitzpatrick
- T6 -8 Kristoffer Reitan
- 8th -7 Eric Cole
- 9th -6 Alex Noren
- T10 -5 Si Woo Kim
- T10 -5 Maverick McNealy
WELCOME
Welcome to our coverage of the closing holes of the Memorial Tournament, where we look set for an exciting finish.
That's largely because leader JT Poston has wobbled in the final round, with his four-shot lead heading into it whittled down to just one by Sam Burns.
The leader's at the 10th. Let's see how the next few hours plays out...
BURNS RUNNING HOT
While Poston went one over on the front nine, including a bogey thanks to a lip-out at the ninth, Burns has been piling the pressure on.
He made three birdies to close the gap to one at 10 under. Others in contention include Wyndham Clark and Ryan Gerard.
TOMMY AND WYNDHAM IN THE MIX
Tommy Fleetwood cranks the pressure up on Poston just a little more with a birdie at 11 to take him to -9, just two behind.
Playing partner Wyndham Clark also birdies 11 to move to -10.
MISSED CHANCE FOR BURNS?
Sam Burns finds himself in the rough at the par-5 11th. It's a great opportunity for a birdie if he can do something with his third here...
It barely makes it onto the green though, and now it looks more likely he'll have to settle for a par.
GERARD UP TO T2
We now have three in pursuit of Poston just one behind at 10 under. Ryan Gerard joins Sam Burns and Wyndham Clark with a nice birdie putt at the 11th.
Moments later, at the same hole, Poston maintains his advantage with par.
CLASSY, RORY!
Rory McIlroy isn't doing enough to earn his maiden Memorial Tournament title, but he's still proving he's a class act. Here he is handing a young fan a memento of her visit to Muirfield Village.
Mid-round gift for this lucky fan 🥹 pic.twitter.com/DbvtAaad9DJune 7, 2026
SETBACK FOR WYNDHAM
Immediately after dragging himself into a tie for second with a birdie at 11, Wyndham Clark has a setback with a bogey at 12.
GERARD OUT OF TROUBLE AT 12
Ryan Gerard eyes a gigantic birdie putt at 12 which would draw him level with Poston at the top of the leaderboard. It runs out of steam well short, though, and he may even struggle to make a par from there...
I needn't have worried. He rolls it into the center of the cup and he remains T2.
BOGEY FOR POSTON!
At the same hole Gerard saves par, there's no such joy for Poston with another bogey to move into a tie for the lead at 10 under. He's thrown away a four-shot lead in the final round...
POSTON WOBBLING
After losing his outright lead of four within the first 12 holes of the final round, you get the feeling JT Poston could do with a good tee shot at 13 to settle the nerves.
It doesn't happen though, his ball flying right and towards some trees...
BURNS MISSTEPS AT 13
At 13, Sam Burns's approach lands on the green but well short of the pin. To make matters worse, it catches an undulation and rolls even further back.
ERRATIC POSTON
JT Poston is taking the scenic route to the green at 13. After his tee shot landed near a tree, his second is inches from a greenside bunker, leaving him standing in it as he prepares for his third.
The result isn't too bad, but it's hardly a gimme for his par putt.
Soon after, Ryan Gerard has a long birdie chance to tie the lead at the same hole, but it drifts right.
POSTON LOSING GRIP
Poston's poor final round continues with another bogey at the 13th when his missable par putt does just that. He's now T2 having led by four just a few hours ago.
SAM GETS LUCKY
At 14, Sam Burns almost finds the water with his tee shot, but it stays up. It may look serene, but Muirfield Village isn't done showing its teeth just yet...
NICELY PLAYED, JT
A gap wedge for JT Poston at 14 is the choice for his approach, and that's good enough. He finds the green, rather than the blue of the stream, and he should make at least a par from here.
BRILLIANT FROM POSTON
You simply have to hand it to JT Poston. After leaving an 18-foot birdie putt at the 14th, he rolls it in as though he's not just frittered away a four-shot lead in the previous 13 holes.
That brings him back into a tie for the lead at -10 and maybe it will kickstart his challenge.
WOW, TOMMY FLEETWOOD!
Tommy Fleetwood might be about to blow open the Memorial Tournament leaderboard. The Englishman is on nine-under, one back of co-leaders Ryan Gerard, Sam Burns and JT Poston, but a brilliant approach from 240 yards at the par-5 15th leaves him within five feet of an eagle!
FOUR TIED AT THE TOP!
Wyndham Clark birdies the 15th and there's a four-way tie at the top!
TOMMY ON TOP
What a turnaround we have here. After Wyndham Clark gets himself into a tie for the lead with JT Poston, Sam Burns and Ryan Gerard, Tommy Fleetwood converts his eagle attempt at the 15th to take the solo lead! Could he be poised to win his second PGA Tour title?
239 yards to 4 feet 🎯Tommy Fleetwood has the lead to himself with this eagle @MemorialGolf.📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/o7U8z3R0xUJune 7, 2026
FOUR TIED AT THE TOP!
At the same hole Tommy Fleetwood converted the eagle putt to give him the lead, Sam Burns has his own chance to do the same and take the solo lead.
It goes right, though, but his birdie looks assured.
Before that, playing partner Ryan Gerard shows him how it's done with a birdie to tie the lead, as does the last of the three in the group, Poston, before Sam follows suit. Four tied at the top!
CLARK MAKES IT FIVE AT THE TOP!
Wyndham Clark joins the party at the top of the leaderboard, which now extends to five, with his second consecutive birdie, at the 16th. It's anyone's guess which way this one will go!
FINAL GROUP AT 16
Sam Burns has a long, long birdie putt at 16 to take the lead. It has a little too much speed, but you'd back him to make his par.
Next up is Poston from a slightly shorter distance. It's closer and that absolutely will be a par.
The last of the final group with a birdie chance at 16 is Gerard. Can he take advantage and seize the initiative? It's another lengthy one - and it drifts past too.
All three make par and we move onto the 17th.
FITTING FOR 50TH
This has turned into quite the occasion for a special anniversary of the Memorial Tournament - it's 50th. Could we really be heading to a five-way playoff? With holes running out, it's a distinct possibility.
TOMMY IN TROUBLE AT 17
Tommy Fleetwood is in some trouble at 17. His first finds the rough left by a fairway bunker, and his second isn't any better, into the right rough with over 90 yards still to go at the par-4.
Now his third. It's a brutal lie... and into a greenside bunker. He gets close to holing it from there, but doesn't and that's a bogey. He drops out of the tie for the lead at one of the worst possible times.
SCHEFFLER MAGIC
Meanwhile, further down the leaderboard, here's Scottie Scheffler with an incredible up-and-down from earlier...
Proof. https://t.co/N0cGqbSP3H pic.twitter.com/yxOgwkKPABJune 7, 2026
WORRYING MOMENT FOR BURNS AT 17
Sam Burns appears to be in bother at the 17th. His second seems perilously close to the water, but is it safe? We'll know more soon...
Well, would you believe it? The ball stopped on a bridge!
He now has a choice. Take a penalty or play it off the bridge. He opts for the latter and it finds the green, albeit leaving a long par putt.
He almost makes it, too, but it's a whisker away from dropping! It's a bogey for Burns and now there are three at the top.
RYAN GERARD TAKE SOLO LEAD!
Ryan Gerard produces a stunning long birdie putt at 17 and now he leads by one!
NOT TO BE FOR TOMMY FLEETWOOD
At 18, Tommy Fleetwood needs a birdie to stand a chance but his birdie putt misses and that's his chance over.
STILL HOPE FOR CLARK
Wyndham Clark is next. He makes his par at 18 to get in at -11. Now he hopes for a Gerard bogey on 18 to reach a playoff.
CAREER-DEFINING HOLE FOR GERARD
Currently, Ryan Gerard has one PGA Tour win - the 2025 Barracuda Championship. Now just one hole stands between him and one of the biggest of the lot.
Can he hold his nerve and win the Memorial Tournament? We'll know in a few short minutes.
His second leaves him 39 feet for birdie.
JT POSTON AND RYAN GERARD HEAD TO PLAYOFF!
Gerard's birdie putt has a little too much pace for comfort. It goes by and that'll be a nervy one coming back...
Sam Burns with a birdie putt next... and it stays out by a tiny margin! That's his chance done as he finishes with par for a -10.
Now Poston for a birdie chance and the co-lead. He makes it! Now the pressure is on Gerard, and he holds his nerve admirably to make his par. We have a playoff!
Poston makes birdie! ... Gerard saves par! Two clutch putts on the 18th hole and we're heading to a playoff @MemorialGolf.📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/tawSQ8HTcZJune 7, 2026
BACK TO 18TH FOR PLAYOFF
Poston and Gerard head back to the 18th, a par-4. I don't know about them, but I feel like I've been through the wringer several times over the last few hours and I'm just watching it! Let's see what other twists this incredible final round has in store...
BOTH CONFIDENT OFF THE TEE
Poston is first and finds the fairway right. That's OK. Now Gerard. That's also on the fairway and there's basically nothing between them.
ADVANTAGE POSTON
Gerard is first to go with his approach. He's towards the left of the fairway. It's an 8-iron, and on it goes to the green, before rolling back a few feet. That'll leave a long birdie chance.
Now Poston. He has a 7-iron, 169 between him and the pin. And that's much closer... Maybe 10 feet or so to win it from there.
BOTH MAKE PAR ON FIRST EXTRA HOLE
Ryan Gerard with a birdie putt that could very well change his life. It's a long one, though. The crowd is silent as he putts, and the speed is good. He makes his par and now Poston has the chance to win it without heading back to the 18th tee box.
Poston is potentially a putt from his fourth PGA Tour win. He's had a rollercoaster day. He putts and it goes high! We'll play 18 all over again...
BACK AT 18
Gerard and Poston will know this hole inside out before long, if they don't already. Although, if nothing can separate them after the second playoff hole, the location of the pin will be moved to mix it up a bit.
BOTH FIND ROUGH OFF TEE
Poston will be the first to go on this second playoff hole. That's not great. He's between a couple of bunkers in some rough right of the fairway.
Gerard does the opposite, with a similar result. He's in the left rough.
OPEN JOY FOR POSTON
While we wait for their approach shots, here's one big perk Poston has achieved regardless of what happens in the next however many minutes. His T1 in regulation hands him a place at The Open as the event is part of The Open Qualifying Series. Gerard had already qualified.
ADVANTAGE POSTON... AGAIN!
Gerard is the first to have a go with his approach. Much perusing of the yardage book takes place between player and caddie beforehand, as you'd imagine.
He finds the green again with an excellent effort from the thick rough. Once again, though, he'll have a heck of a long putt for birdie.
Let's see what JT can do. It's a good one. He'll have a better look at birdie from there.
JT POSTON WINS THE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT!
Gerard's first putt isn't bad at all. He'll have a few feet for par. Now Poston with the chance to win it for the second time in this playoff. He still has a good way to go. Nope. It goes high.
Gerard's par putt is by no means a certainty, and it drifts right! Now the door is well and truly open for Poston. Can he take his third opportunity?
He has something like three-and-a-half feet. He makes it and JT Poston is the Memorial Tournament champion!
