Jones holds off Spieth and Scott at Australian Open

Jordan Spieth posted the best score of the day on Saturday at the Australian Open, a 5-under 67 that left him in solo second place, three shots behind the leader – his good buddy and frequent practice partner Matt Jones.

Starting the day seemingly well out of contention at four-over par, 14 shots off the lead, Pampling dropped another shot on the first hole before racking up nine birdies and then draining a 23m putt for eagle on the last to set the tournament alight. The Australian holed a three-foot par putt on the final hole to finish at eight under, a shot clear of Spieth and Adam Scott.

“I would’ve much preferred to leave it to a tap-in or gimme distance, but I was expecting Jordan to make that”.

He finished just off the back edge with his second and got up and down for one final birdie and was then forced to wait to see if his 7 under total would be enough.

Australian Rhein Gibson was in third after a 68, five behind Jones.

The 46-year-old will make his ninth appearance in The Open at Royal Troon, where he finished tied 27th in 2004, his joint best finish in the Championship.

“I’ve just got to play two good rounds”, he said.

He had a 15-foot eagle putt at the last to force at play-off, but like most of his putting in the final round he frightened the hole, and had to settle for the birdie and equal second with Scott. I knew, getting to the back 9 with a chance I would – that’s all I wanted to do was get to the back 9 with a chance because I know I can birdie some holes out on the back 9.

Spieth was three over par for his first six holes after two opening bogeys and another at the sixth, while Jones opened with a bogey and a double-bogey to also find himself three over for the day after a couple of holes.

Rod Pampling of Australia pumps his fist as he celebrates hitting…

Scott is winless this year and his streak of capturing at least one tournament every year since 2001 could end if he doesn’t win his final tournament of the year in early December – the Hero World Challenge at his home base of the Bahamas.

“I battled away today, which is fantastic the way I did, I could have let it slip and let it get away”.