Stunning finish leaves Spieth second behind Jones in Australian Open

Australian Rod Pampling went two better than the score Spieth carded a year ago with a 10-under 61 to finish only two shots off the pace.

Jones said despite struggling to two over in the final round, he’s proud of the way he fought.

Scott’s round would hand him the clubhouse lead, however, and after a disappointing round by his own high standards, Spieth had managed to recover enough to stand over an eagle putt at the last that would have forced a play-off with Jones, but it was just wide.

“I am just so happy to have my name on this trophy and it is something I have thought about since I first met Greg (Norman) when I was six years of age”, said Jones, ranked 81 in the world.

While McIlroy snatched victory from Adam Scott on the final hole in 2013 and Spieth smashed the course record in his final round in 2014, however, Jones’s fourth round two-over-par 73 was a more nervous affair.

Having led this year’s US PGA Championship – which Day ultimately won playing alongside Spieth in the final group – at the halfway mark, Jones is hoping that near-miss and Sunday’s experience will elevate him to major player status in 2016.

With his second shot at the par-five 18th, however, he lofted a five iron to 12 feet, draining the putt to record a three-under 68 and stay in touch with the leaders at one-under.

Spieth needed at least an eagle to have a chance to tie Jones and take him to a playoff.

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.

Meanwhile, Scott produced an aggressive round of six-under as he rallied from nine shots behind at the start of the day to finish second.

“If I go out and shoot two or three-under tomorrow, I’m going to be very tough to beat”.

Spieth entered last year’s tournament on the strength of a victory at the Aussie Open.

Nick Cullen (70) grabbed the third spot after Jones and Pampling by sharing fifth at three under with the lower-ranked Lincoln Tighe (72).

Bourdy hit four consecutive birdies before a triple-bogey on the par three seventh hit his challenge, despite a mini-recovery late on when he claimed birdies on the 15th and 16th.