Will Zalatoris’s Wild First Win in 2022
Before 2022, Will Zalatoris was widely known as the best player on tour without a victory. He’d come agonizingly close, including playoff losses at a major and other big events. At the FedEx St. Jude Championship, he finally broke through in the most
chaotic way possible. After making a gutsy 10-foot par putt on the 72nd hole to force a playoff with Sepp Straka, the real drama began. The two traded pars on the first two extra holes, including a 15-foot save from Zalatoris on the second. The absurdity peaked on the par-3 11th. Zalatoris's tee shot hit a rock wall, took seven bounces, and wedged itself between the rock and the turf, miraculously staying dry. Straka then found the water. Zalatoris took a penalty drop from the precarious spot and managed to hole a seven-foot putt for a winning bogey. It was a messy, nerve-wracking, and unforgettable way to capture a maiden PGA Tour title.
Lucas Glover’s Cinderella Run in 2023
In the summer of 2023, Lucas Glover was playing like a man reborn. At 43, he had been fighting to keep his season alive, sitting at 112th in the FedExCup standings just two weeks prior. He won the Wyndham Championship just to get into the playoffs, then arrived in Memphis and refused to cool down. In a tense final round, he outlasted Patrick Cantlay, one of the tour's iciest competitors. The pivotal moment came on the first playoff hole when Cantlay, known for his precision, found the water with his tee shot. Glover played it safe and steady for a two-putt par to secure his second victory in as many weeks. It was a remarkable turnaround, moving him from the playoff bubble to fourth in the standings and guaranteeing a spot in the TOUR Championship. His performance was a testament to perseverance, proving you're never too old for a hot streak.
Justin Rose’s Veteran Grind in 2025
Justin Rose proved that experience matters with a vintage performance in 2025. At 45 years old, he stared down a three-shot deficit late in the final round. While others faltered in the oppressive Memphis heat, Rose got stronger, making four consecutive birdies to force a playoff with J.J. Spaun. The playoff was a tense, three-hole affair where Rose's veteran composure shone through. He ultimately clinched his 12th PGA Tour victory with a clutch birdie on the third extra hole, becoming the oldest European winner of the event in the modern era. It was a masterclass in grinding out a result, refusing to give up when a win seemed unlikely and showing the younger generation that he still had plenty of fight left.
Dustin Johnson’s Walk-Off Eagle in 2018
While this was just before the event became the playoff opener, Dustin Johnson's win at TPC Southwind in 2018 was too spectacular to ignore. It defines dominance. Already a winner at the course in 2012, Johnson entered the final round in control. But it’s how he finished that lands him on this list. Standing on the 18th fairway with a commanding lead, he could have easily coasted to victory. Instead, he took dead aim. From 171 yards out, his approach shot landed, took one hop, and disappeared into the cup for a walk-off eagle. The six-shot victory was emphatic, catapulting him back to the No. 1 world ranking. It wasn't a nail-biter, but it was an arrogant, brilliant, and utterly dominant display of skill that perfectly captured DJ at the height of his powers.
Hideki Matsuyama's Bounce-Back Victory in 2024
Hideki Matsuyama’s 2024 victory was a roller-coaster of emotions and a showcase of mental fortitude. After starting the final day with a comfortable five-shot lead, disaster struck. A shocking four-hole stretch saw his advantage completely evaporate, putting his chances in serious jeopardy. Lesser players might have crumbled, but Matsuyama responded like a champion. He dug deep and made crucial birdies on some of the course's most difficult holes down the stretch. He finished with an even-par 70, which was just enough to secure a two-shot victory over Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland. It wasn't the wire-to-wire dominance many expected, but it was perhaps more impressive: a demonstration of a player's ability to absorb a major blow and fight back to claim a huge playoff win.
