Spieth still hanging on in the Australian Open after disastrous start to

Jones overcame a bogey, double-bogey and triple-bogey on the front nine Sunday to escape with a one-stroke victory in the 100th Australian Open after shooting a 2-over 73.

It was a remarkable final day, not least for the stunning, 10-under par 61 by Rod Pampling that smashed Spieth’s course record from previous year and at one point, threatened to win the tournament for the Queenslander.

They both parred the third, but Jones finally began to right the shop with a birdie on the fourth hole, while Spieth sank a par putt to leave the margin at three shots.

Spieth bogeyed three of the first six holes but fought back to finish evens for the day to join Scott in second. However, he came up two shots short of Jones, who made birdie on the final hole to win on his home club.

Overnight leader Jones, from Australia, carded a second successive 68 to move to 10 under overall.

“It’s a dream come true for me and it’s something that I can’t have taken away from me”.

Speaking after the round, Spieth praised Jones and said he is looking forward to the final day. Defending champion Spieth holed out with his shot from the fairway on the par-Four 17th for an eagle, then had a tap-in birdie on 18 for a 67.

Cullen plans to get married next August, so the entry in the British Open in July will be something of an early wedding present.

Matthew Jones of Australia holds the Stone Haven Cup after winning… “On the weekend you’d like to start off your rounds and be able to gain some momentum and I just didn’t get anything at the beginning, ” he said. “I was more looking at trying to give it a chance but make sure I was a chance to still make the birdie”.

The Texan, whose success has been so recent that he has only previously defended one title, hit a course record 63 to win the tournament a year ago but said he would be putting memories of that brilliant round to the back of his mind on Sunday.

“I had it at the PGA but I battled away today all day, which is fantastic the way I did”. “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. “And now I’m well in contention and likely in the last group, whether it’s three or four behind, it’s a lot better than I’d thought it would be after four holes”.