Rod Pampling shoots course-record 61 at Australian Open

The move up the leaderboard could also see Pampling qualify for next year’s British Open as one of the three highest finishers at the Australian Open who are not already exempt for Royal Troon next July.

Veteran Rod Pampling finished a gallant fourth, two shots behind Jones, after firing a spectacular course-record 10-under 61 and sharing the lead for nearly two hours late on Sunday.

But Jones, a local club member at The Australian, retained his composure amid the drama to birdie the 16th to regain sole possession of the lead.

But Spieth missed a long eagle putt on the final hole that would have forced a playoff.

Pampling opened with a bogey but then recorded nine birdies – including 2s on three of the four par-3s on the course – and an eagle.

“Matt Jones has played the best golf for three rounds, he’s played better golf than I have and I have to somehow not only play better golf, but play better golf by multiple shots”.

Adam Scott eagled the last hole of his third round to give himself a glimmer of hope of winning the Stonehaven Cup for the second time.

Spieth looked down and out after three bogeys in his first four holes of the third round, but clawed his way back with birdies at the fifth, six and ninth holes — dampened by a bogey at the eighth.

“At four-over to start the day and catching a chunk of bark with a four iron on the first I thought “I just can’t get anything going”, Pampling said of his 10-under-par round.

There was a lot of stress and a lot of anxious moments, but I came through with that lipping putt on the last to get the trophy.

Playing partner and world No. 1 Spieth opened with consecutive bogeys and suddenly it was game on.

“I’m not complaining I’m playing too much golf, I’m enjoying it. But yesterday, I was certainly a little flat…” “I’m very involved in each shot”. But today was one of the great fightbacks I’ve had.

Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke is nine shots off the pace after carding a 70, with England’s Lee Westwood five further back following a four-over-par round, but it appears set to be a two-man fight for the title.

It explains the exaggerated waggle (think Mike Weir) that he took before every swing to check the position of the club going back.

Meanwhile, Scott produced an aggressive round of six-under as he rallied from nine shots behind at the start of the day to finish second.