Matt Jones wins the Australian Open from Spieth and Scott
The double major victor was in second place, just three shots behind Australia’s Matt Jones who had putted in off the green at the 17th for a birdie and then also birdied the last in a second straight score of 68 to finish at 10 under par. “It’s always good to play with him and it’ll be good to see where he is and what he’s doing”, Jones said after his round.
VETERAN Rod Pampling had to explain to his three young kids why daddy was late home on Sunday after a jaw-dropping career round of 61 catapulted him from nowhere into Australian Open contention.
After a horror start in which he dropped three shots in the first four holes, Spieth blitzed his last 10 holes in seven under par to fire a day’s-best 67 to move to seven under for the championship.
The highlight of Spieth’s round was a hole-out eagle on the par-4 17th, which led into a birdie at the par-5 finisher to cap off a back-nine 31. “I was just trying to get it close on the last, but it tracked nicely and went in”.
Scott began the final round nine shots adrift of Jones but briefly held the clubhouse lead after shooting a sizzling six-under 65.
The victor of at least one tournament every year since 2001, Scott said he failed to take advantage of better scoring conditions and softer greens on The Australian Golf Club course.
Jones, Pampling, Scott and Spieth were frequently tied for the lead over the final hour, but a birdie on the 16th put the Australian a stroke clear. “I have played it the last two years and to be able to qualify this early on means I can schedule around it and get ready for it”, said Jones.
The European Ryder Cup captain is joined on one under by Australian Adam Scott, who recovered from a 73 on Friday to shoot 68, including an eagle on the 18th. “I could have let it slip and let it get away easily but I fought it out, ground it out and that’s something I can use for later on down the road”. 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.
“It was tough this year the way the dates fell but I am going to really try hard and soak-in as much as I can as from the end of next week to heading out to Hawaii will be the longest break I will have had this year”, he said.
A total of six-under for the tournament might not earn Pampling a first Australian Open title but it will nearly certainly secure him a spot at next year’s British Open.