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J.T. Poston beat Ryan Gerard in a two-hole playoff at the 2026 Memorial Tournament to pick up a much-needed event win on Sunday.
Entering the signature event this week, Poston still needed to qualify for the 2026 U.S. Open later in June. He was running out of time, and opportunities, to do so. This tournament win secured his spot in the U.S. Open field, and got him out of 36 holes he was scheduled to play on Monday during “Golf’s Longest Day.”
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Gerard and Poston had the deck stacked against them Sunday. The lead pair got only five holes in on Saturday due to the weather. This meant the pairing had to play 33 holes on Sunday to finish their four rounds for the event.
When the dust settled Sunday afternoon on the 18th hole, Gerard and Poston were tied at 12-under.
To settle the tiebreaker, they walked back to the 18th tee and played the hole again. They each parred the hole, and the duo had to play the 18th again.
This time, Gerard bogeyed, while Poston sank the tournament-winning par putt.
“Man, very tired,” Poston said. “We would have found a way, but I sort of told myself in the playoff that this is my U.S. Open qualifier. This is my chance to get in.
“I want to play in the majors. I want to play in the big events. This is a huge boost of confidence for me and my game and knowing that I can compete in those and play in those. Just thrilled to get it done.”
Winning the tournament and securing that spot at the U.S. Open is a huge sigh of relief for Poston. If he hadn't won the Memorial on Sunday, his qualifying options would have been limited.
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The golfer was already scheduled to play in a U.S. Open qualifying event Monday in Columbus, Ohio — which is part of “Golf’s Longest Day,” the final wave of qualifying events throughout the country.
If that had happened, Poston would have played 33 holes Sunday and then had to play 36 on Monday to try and qualify for the upcoming major.
“I don't know the last time I played 32 or 33,” Poston said. “It might have been one of those qualifiers several years ago. But it felt like it had been awhile. It felt like more than 32 today, just, like you said, with the mental fatigue. It's a long day and playing with the lead for that long is a grind. But I feel like I did a great job of staying patient and not getting ahead of myself. I know it's a hard golf course and anything can happen all the way up until the last hole.”
Now, he is able to focus on the U.S. Open and revel in the $4 million payday from his win. This is the fourth PGA Tour event win of Poston's career. He is still searching for his first major win. Currently, his best finish is a tie for fifth at the 2025 PGA Championship.
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But, with a spot in the U.S. Open, and now the British Open, secured, Poston will have two more chances this summer.
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