Jones holds off Spieth to win Australian Open

Before Matt Jones and Jordan Spieth teed off for their final round of the 100th Emirates Australian Open, Rod Pampling was wrapping up the round of his career on the 18th hole.

Pampling opened with a bogey, but then recorded nine birdies – including twos on three of the four par-three holes – and an eagle.

Spieth set the previous mark of 63 during the final round a year ago, winning the Australian Open by six strokes, with Pampling finishing runner-up.

Pampling bogeyed his first hole Sunday, then played the next 17 in 11-under, with nine birdies, including 2s on three of the four par-3s on the course, and an eagle. The world number one ended up with an even-par 71 in the final round, but he never found his best form in his title defense.

Jones had a three-shot lead heading into the final round at the Australian GC but a two-over 73 nearly saw his second PGA Tour title slip away.

Rhein Gibson (68) is five shots off the lead in outright third with Lincoln Tighe (70) and Aron Price (70) six back in equal fourth. Scott, the world No. 12, and Spieth, the world No. 1, tied for second at The Australian in a heavily laden leaderboard. “It felt really good instantly”, Ogilvy said of the longer putter he has reverted to just recently. “I hit two greens on the front nine and probably less than nine on the day and still had a chance at the end”.

Pitt said stakeholders were working on a plan to rotate the Australian Open across Sydney’s top courses at Royal Sydney, The Australian, The Lakes and NSW Golf Club over the next eight years with the window for one-off stagings interstate.

Jones has seen this course present many challenges, but he ranked Thursday’s round – in which less than 20 players posted red numbers – as one of the toughest. “If I can inspire young kids to play golf and help them out any way I can, if they’re interested in golf, sure”.

“It’s one Major I would love to win, it’s one Major that I think suits my golf game the best”.

The Queenslander had told his children he’d be back in Brisbane by four o’clock.

“So I am going to give it everything I can as I would love to have my name on that trophy alongside the likes of (Jack) Nicklaus and Norman”.