The Walk-Off Eagle
In 2018, Dustin Johnson arrived at the 18th hole on Sunday with a commanding four-shot lead. Victory was all but guaranteed. He could have played it safe, coasting to a comfortable finish. Instead, he delivered one of the most audacious finishing shots
in modern golf history. From 171 yards out in the fairway, Johnson’s approach shot tracked the flagstick, took two small bounces, and disappeared into the cup for a walk-off eagle. The crowd erupted, but the man himself remained the coolest person on the course. His casual shrug and simple acknowledgment were almost as iconic as the shot itself. It was the ultimate mic drop, a display of pure dominance that not only secured him a six-shot victory but also vaulted him back to the No. 1 spot in the world golf rankings. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement.
The Wildest First Win
Will Zalatoris arrived in Memphis for the 2022 championship known as one of the best players without a PGA Tour victory. He left as a champion, but only after one of the most chaotic and thrilling playoffs in recent memory. Facing Sepp Straka, the sudden-death playoff stretched to a third hole, the par-3 11th. Zalatoris’s tee shot went errant, appearing destined for the water surrounding the green. In a stunning twist of fate, his ball hit the stone retaining wall and, instead of sinking, miraculously wedged itself in the rough between the rock and the grass. Given a second life, Zalatoris watched as Straka, perhaps rattled, sent his own tee shot into the pond. Even with the advantage, the drama wasn't over. After a penalty drop, Zalatoris still had to get up and down. He managed to make a clutch seven-foot putt for bogey, an unusual score to win a playoff, clinching his first-ever Tour title and unleashing a wave of raw emotion.
The Grinding Playoff Win
The 2025 championship delivered a masterclass in resilience from Justin Rose. After ending regulation tied with U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, the two entered a sudden-death playoff. The pressure of the FedEx Cup Playoffs hung heavy as they matched each other shot for shot. Both players made par on their first trip down the 18th hole, then both birdied it on the second try. It took a third playing of the hole to finally decide a winner. On that final attempt, Rose managed to make another birdie, a feat Spaun couldn't match. It was a tense, grinding victory that showcased the mental fortitude required to win at the highest level, especially against a competitor who was himself a major champion. For Rose, it was his 12th career PGA Tour title, a hard-earned win built on clutch putting and unwavering nerve when the stakes were highest.
The Tournament's True Heart
Perhaps the most significant hidden story has nothing to do with a single shot or player. Since 1970, the tournament has been inextricably linked with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The partnership began when entertainer and St. Jude founder Danny Thomas worked with Memphis leaders to make the hospital the event's official charity. What was then the Memphis Open evolved over the decades, but its core charitable mission never wavered. Through its different names and formats—from the St. Jude Classic to its current status as a premier playoff event—the tournament has raised more than $86 million for the hospital's mission to treat and defeat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. This enduring connection gives the championship a soul that transcends sports, reminding everyone that for all the drama on the course, the biggest win is the one that benefits the children of St. Jude.
