Fleetwood and Rose Locked in Thrilling Round 3 Battle at St. Jude Championship
The St. Jude Championship round 3 delivered a gripping see-saw battle between two of England’s finest — Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose. Fleetwood began the day with a one-shot lead but quickly came under pressure from the steady, clinical play of Rose. By the turn, the lead had already changed hands more than once, setting the stage for one of the most dramatic moving days of the season.
Fleetwood’s Costly Double Bogey Drama
Fleetwood’s biggest setback came on the par-5 front-nine hole. His 3-wood approach came up 30 yards short and found the water. After taking a drop and playing his next shot, he called over a referee to report that he thought the ball may have moved during his swing. The crowd held its breath as officials reviewed the footage — a penalty stroke could have turned a bad hole into a disaster. Fortunately for Fleetwood, there was no evidence of ball movement, and no penalty was given. Even so, the double bogey temporarily handed Rose the outright lead.
Rose’s Composed Charge
Rose pounced on the opportunity, carding a smooth 67 with a bogey-free front nine. He knew that Fleetwood, who has been runner-up six times on the PGA Tour without a win, would be under immense pressure. Drawing energy from that knowledge, Rose kept applying steady pressure, hitting fairways and converting key birdies to keep the heat on.
Fleetwood Fights Back
Showing trademark resilience, Fleetwood regrouped on the back nine. Birdies on the 11th and 15th helped him regain the solo lead, and he closed with a 69 to sit at -14. Rose is right behind at -13 heading into the final round.
Fleetwood’s Close-Call History
Since joining the PGA Tour in 2018, Fleetwood has:
- Played 161 events
- Made 137 cuts
- Earned $31,360,669 in official money
- Recorded 6 runner-up finishes, 5 third-place finishes, 28 top-5 finishes, and 42 top-10 finishes
Despite eight international wins, a PGA Tour title remains elusive — and Sunday could be his moment.
Scheffler, Spaun, and Novak Lurking
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler surged into contention with a bogey-free 65, moving to -12. J.J. Spaun and Andrew Novak share fourth at -11, giving chase as the final round looms.
Click here to view the full St. Jude Championship leaderboard.
Ryder Cup Approaching
With two Europeans — Fleetwood and Rose — leading the way, this week also feels like a Ryder Cup preview. From the American side, Scheffler is looking sharp, joined by solid performances from Rickie Fowler, Chris Kirk, and Patrick Cantlay, all of whom could play pivotal roles when the teams meet.
Watch the Highlights
Catch the best shots, clutch putts, and leaderboard shake-ups from Round 3 of the St. Jude Championship in the official PGA Tour highlights video below.
