Australian Open golf: Matt Jones and Jordan Spieth duel

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

It had shaped up as a two-way battle for the Stonehaven Cup on Sunday until Jones started bogey, double-bogey to immediately invite the chasing pack back into the tournament.

Pampling would have to cancel his flight – and the bookies dramatically reel in their odds – as the 46-year-old produced one of the greatest single-round performances in the Australian Open’s 100-year history.

Australia’s Matt Jones shot a 3-under 68 to hold a three-stroke advantage over a surging Jordan Spieth after the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday in Sydney.

Spieth and Jones were the final grouping and both got off to a rough start in the first few holes. Jones, who led defending champion Jordan Spieth by three strokes to begin the day, finished with a 72-hole total of 8-under 276.

A “flat” and exhausted Adam Scott shot a 2-over 73 at the Australian Open on Friday, a round that allowed him to make the cut but likely did little to help him end his 2015 victory drought.

Jones salvaged a par on the 12th hole by holing out from the bunker, while Spieth bogeyed the hole to drop out of the lead to -5.

“It’s not about a match-play mindset at all”, Jones said.

Jones’ issues kept Spieth in the race and at the 18th, an eagle might have done it. A nice drive helped, and with 200 metres to the flag, he went for it. Off the club, he thought it was in the water.

“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”.

The 2014 Masters and US Open champion also saw his course record surpassed. I normally don’t drink during the tournament but…at 4 over you really didn’t think much was going on.

Bourdy hit four consecutive birdies before a triple-bogey on the par three seventh hit his challenge, despite a mini-recovery late on when he claimed birdies on the 15th and 16th.

Rod Pampling’s first-hole bogey gave no indication he would light the fuse for the fireworks with nine birdies and a 70-foot eagle putt at the last for a course record 10-under 61 – a career best.