Meanwhile, Jones started the final round of the Australian Open with a three stroke lead over Jordan Spieth, but anything can happen in the sport of golf and it made for an interesting Sunday.
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Matt Jones retains a three-stroke advantage midway through his third round of the Australian Open in Sydney.
His sand wedge had kept him level with Pampling in the clubhouse and tied with Adam Scott and Spieth who had predictably hung on and then got himself back into the fight.
Defending champion Spieth had a 15-foot eagle putt at the last to force a playoff but sent his ball wide of the hole and had to settle for a 71, giving him a share of second place with Scott.
Joining Jones at next year’s 145th British Open Championship will be fellow Australians Rod Pampling and Nick Cullen. “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.
“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. “Hopefully I haven’t peaked yet, I know I can hit it better than I did today and if I can get a few more putts we’ll have a good day tomorrow”.
The veteran smashed the previous course record of 63 at The Australian set by Spieth during the final round a year ago while winning the tournament by six strokes, when Pampling was runner-up.
That sent Pampling to the airport and then Adam Scott posted a seven birdie 65 for 277. He also missed makeable birdie putts on the 12 and 14th holes to make the turn in 1-over 37.
“Right now I think the goal is going to be to try and shoot 10 under on the weekend and I think that should be good enough”.
“I came back from the break and as I took my backswing, my [club] face would stay very, very shut”, he said at the HSBC Champions.
Bidding to become the first worldwide player since the legendary Jack Nicklaus in 1976 to win back-to-back Open crowns, Spieth at one point trailed Jones by eight shots before setting up what shapes as a grandstand finish to the 100th Open.
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At the Australian Open alone, a pair of horror bogeys in the first round meant he needed four birdies on the back nine to salvage par and he made the cut despite a second round in which he failed to once beat par.
