Jones edges Spieth, Scott for Australian Open title

The largely unheralded Jones burst from the shadows of celebrated countrymen Adam Scott and Jason Day with a hugely popular one-stroke triumph over defending champion Spieth and Scott on his home course at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney on Sunday.

Adam Scott rebounded from a 73 on Friday to shoot 68, including an eagle on the 18th.

The only mainland golfer to make the cut in Sydney, Li Xinyang, is down the list tied for 48th at plus-6.

Pampling’s stunning score bettered the 63 Spieth carded to win the title previous year, a final round that had given the American high hopes he could overhaul Jones’s overnight lead.

It was perhaps appropriate that a local should win the 100th edition of the Australian Open and few were more local than Jones, who has been a member of the host Australian Golf Club since he was 15. Scott closed with a seven-birdie 65 while Spieth erased four birdies with as many bogeys for 71.

Spieth thought yesterday’s round was also one of the “best fought” of his professional career after he started the day with three bogeys in the first four holes.

If recent history is anything to go by, Matt Jones should have major expectations for 2016 after winning the Australian Open at his home course on Sunday.

Lincoln Tighe was also on 5-under after an early birdie on the first, but he bogeyed the fifth to drop back.

“I was lazy in my decision making and my swings”, said Spieth.

“They’ve just gotten a little bit easier day-to-day and my putting’s been just a slightly better day today, and so I do believe that I have yet to peak at this tournament”.

Pampling, who played his way back onto the tour in America a year ago with some good play at the lower levels, began with a bogey, followed it with nine birdies and then holed an utterly ridiculous putt from at least seventy feet all the way up the final green for a 61.

Spieth missed a long eagle putt at the last that would have forced a play-off.

“I do know the course… comfortable with the lines of the tees and that”, Jones said. England’s Lee Westwood who played alongside Spieth and Ogilvy shot a 72 to be at even par and tied with close friend and European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke.

“There’s a couple of pretty good players out there right now so I’m just happy to be in with a chance of getting back into the British Open”.