Jordan Spieth keeps nerve to win Oz Open after three-man playoff

Living up to his superstar status, Spieth recovered from a four-shot deficit mid-round to lift the Stonehaven Cup for the second time in a thrilling three-man sudden-death playoff on Sunday.

Hall’s priorities ahead of the majors this year are a little more prosaic, as the world number 902 explained when asked what his berth at Royal Birkdale meant to him.

“It would have been nice to get that putt on the last and get that one closer, it would have felt nice”, the 36-year-old, victor of his home open in 2009, said.

“I had two great playing partners in Geoff (Ogilvy) and Jordan and they made it a lot of fun for me and obviously I played quite well”, he said. “It was a good second nine holes really and I finally just got a bit of rhythm happening out there”.

Scott mixed four birdies with three bogeys and was upbeat after his 71 despite missing a short birdie putt on the final green.

Two years ago, Spieth, 16 months removed from his maiden victory in professional golf, went to Sydney and won the Australian Open.

“I haven’t practiced”, said Spieth on his putting.

“I hit a lot of good shots”. So, even if overseas travel is trimmed down, we still like coming here and plan to.

Smith and Hall earn Open Championship starts as does Aaron Baddeley a consolation bonus for them although the title would have changed their careers more especially for Smith and Hall.

Baddeley closed with a 1-under 71 and edged out Rod Pampling (70), Jason Scrivener (69), Ryan Fox (71) and third-round leader Geoff Ogilvy (73) for the spot at the British Open by virtue of his superior world ranking.

Ogilvy – who carried a two-shot lead into the final round – led for most of the day and was spurred on by a chip-in eagle at the par-five seventh.

He followed up his 2014 triumph, his first professional win, by taking five titles, including the US Masters and US Open, in 2015.

They were standing 10-deep at some parts of Royal Sydney on Sunday and while he only held the outright lead early on the final day, the fans never strayed too far knowing that if things got tight down the stretch Spieth would be there to strike. It doesn’t work that way. It just comes through experience. At one point, the Victorian had carded six birdies, without a single blemish, and was on track to record the best round of the week however that slowed with a bogey on 14. “Every year I’ve kind of gotten better and I’m in a good position heading into the weekend”.

“I had just an inside right putt and I hit a nice putt there”, he grinned, ruefully.

A shoot-out was required in a dramatic finale after 2014 champion and two-time major victor Spieth and Australians Ashley Hall and Cameron Smith finished level at 12 under through 72 holes.