Zalatoris beats Straka in FedEx play-off to claim first PGA Tour title

Will Zalatoris claimed a maiden PGA Tour title, edging out Sepp Straka in a play-off to win the FedEx St Jude Championship.

Zalatoris and Straka could not be separated after 72 holes, finishing in a tie for first on 15 under, with the eventual winner holing a clutch eight-footer on the 18th to save par and help force a play-off.

The pair both made par twice more on the 18th for the first two holes of the play-off - Zalatoris sinking another long putt second time round to stay in it - before moving to the par-three 12th for the third, where both were forced to take drops after wayward tee shots.

Zalatoris flirted with the water, only for his ball to remarkably stay on the rocks just off the fringe of the green, while Straka was not so fortunate. Ultimately, Zalatoris was forced to take a drop anyway due to being confronted with a near unplayable lie.

Straka then found the back-side bunker from the drop zone, opening the door for Zalatoris, who got up and down in two to clinch his first PGA Tour title and get the monkey off his back after a string of near misses, particularly in the majors.

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The 25-year-old American was edged out by Justin Thomas in a three-hole play-off for the PGA Championship earlier this year, while he also came out on the wrong side of a ding-dong final day battle with Matt Fitzpatrick at the US Open, finishing in a tie for second. Zalatoris also finished as runner-up to Hideki Matsuyama in the 2021 Masters.

JJ Spaun, who had held a one-shot lead overnight over Straka, saw his challenge fade badly on the final day, the American carding a 68 to ultimately finish way back off the pace at five under.

Meanwhile, Australian