Pampling shoots course record 61 at Aussie Open

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.

Australian veteran Rod Pampling went two better than the mark Spieth set a year ago with a 10-under 61 to finish two shots off the pace.

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

“It’s one Major I would love to win, it’s one Major that I think suits my golf game the best”. The 36-year-old former world number one is trying to avoid finishing winless for the first season in his professional career.

Alas, the world No. 1 missed before Jones coolly holed his metre-long par putt to clinch his first major trophy on home soil. He got the momentum going again by picking up two more shots at the 12th and 14th but said that saves for par at the 15th and 16th had been just as important in setting up his brilliant finish.

Jones is also in line to secure one of three places into next year’s Open Championship along with fellow Australian Rhein Gibson (68) in third place on five under par.

Spieth drained an eight-foot downhill putt on the 11th to also move to six-under and Scott, ahead on the 14th, joined him to make it a four-way tie for the lead.

“Absolutely, with all of the discussions with Jason and his management he’s really keen to come down, after the year he’s had, to share that with Australian crowds”, Pitt said. Spieth birdied the last for a 71 while Scott carded 68.

“That was very stressful, it wasn’t comfortable out there for me”, an emotional Jones said after receiving the Stonehaven Cup for the first time.

Jones, Pampling and Australian Nick Cullen, who finished tied for fifth, qualified for next year’s British Open as the three highest finishers at the Australian Open who are not already exempt for Royal Troon next July. “I could have let it slip and let it get away easily, but I fought it out”. “[It’s] a dream come true”.

“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”.