FedEx Cup playoffs: Lucas Glover 'fights' to claim St. Jude Championship

Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Lucas Glover not only had to battle an elite field of golfers, but also said he was in a "fight" against his own swing en route to a FedEx Cup playoff victory at the 2023 St. Jude Championship.

Glover logged two birdies and a bogey for a 1-under par 69 over his final 18 holes Sunday at TPC Southwind at Memphis. He tied Patrick Cantlay with a 15-under score through 72 holes and then edged the No. 4 player in the world in a playoff to claim a $3.6 million prize.

"It was a fight," Glover told reporters. "It was a physical fight. I was fighting my swing and wasn't hitting it great. But my short game was there. that's the only reason I'm sitting here now, my chipping and putting Saturday and Sunday."

Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood tied for third. Taylor Moore placed fifth. Corey Conners, Adam Schenk, Cam Davis, Sungjae Im, Russell Henley, Jordan Spieth and Max Homa also placed inside the Top 10.

Spieth fired a 7-under 63 for the first-round lead Thursday in Memphis. Glover carded a 66 over his first 18 holes. He scribbled a 6-under 64 on his scorecard in the second round, taking the lead into Saturday. Glover carded another 66 in the third round and started Sunday with a 1-stroke lead on Taylor Moore.

Fleetwood started Sunday two strokes behind Glover. Spieth and Homa were three strokes back.

Cantlay sank six birdies and did not bogey over his final 18 holes to force the playoff. His 6-under 64 was the best score of Sunday's final round. McIlroy made five birdies and also didn't bogey en route to a final-round 65.

FedEx Cup standings leader Jon Rahm was 5-under over 72 holes and finished tied for 37th. Scottie Scheffler, who sits second in the standings, was 6-under and tied for 31st. McIlroy is third in the FedEx Cup standings.

Glover climbed from No. 112 to No. 4 in the standings because of his victory. Cantlay, Homa, Viktor Hovland, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman and Fleetwood round out the Top 10 in the FedEx Cup standings.

The three-tournament playoff will continue with the BMW Championship. That tournament will be held from Thursday through Sunday at the North Course at Olympia Fields in Olympia Fields, Ill.