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Will Zalatoris beats Sepp Straka in dramatic St Jude Championship playoff

Zalatoris beats Straka in dramatic St Jude Championship playoff
© Reuters
Will Zalatoris ends his wait for a PGA Tour title by edging out Sepp Straka in a dramatic playoff to win the St Jude Championship.

Will Zalatoris has won the Fedex St Jude Championship after prevailing from the third playoff hole against Sepp Straka.

The American has become known for claiming multiple runners-up spots at majors without getting over the line, but the 25-year-old now collects the first PGA Tour title of his career.

On a dramatic day in Memphis, Zalatoris holed a 10-footer for par on the final hole to stay at the top of the leaderboard, with Straka missing from just under 23 feet to narrowly miss out on victory in regulation play.

The first playoff hole was relatively uneventful, but both made wayward drives on the second extra hole before getting up and down for par from the middle of the fairway.

Having moved over to the par-three 11th hole, Zalatoris left his ball on the bricks to the side of the hole, somehow avoiding the water, and Straka followed his rival but found the drink.

Straka's shot from the drop zone was poor and he was eventually left only able to make a five, but Zalatoris rolled in his seven-foot putt for bogey after a sublime approach only made possible from correctly not trying to hack at his ball from what appeared to be an impossible position.

As far as the best of the rest were concerned, Lucas Glover and Brian Harman shared third spot as they finished three shots behind the top two.

A whole host of high-profile names were among seven players who shared fifth position, including Jon Rahm and Adam Scott who each posted a 66 for their final round.

Tony Finau failed to make it three wins in succession, but the American made it 12 successive rounds below 70 with a 68 on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Cameron Smith received a two-shot penalty courtesy of playing a drop on a hazard line during Saturday's play, seeing him down the leaderboard and making his bid to become the new world number one even more difficult.

The Australian had been required to win the event, but had to make do with a tie for 13th spot after only recording a final-round 70.

Overnight leader J.J Spaun endured a day to forget as he fired in a 78 during a round which included six bogeys and two double bogeys.

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J.J. Spaun in action at the St Jude Championship on August 12, 2022.
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