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.
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SYDNEY – If recent history is anything to go by, Matt Jones should have major expectations for next year after winning the Australian Open on his home course at the Australian Golf Club on Sunday.
The Queenslander’s stunning 10-under par 61 smashed the previous course record of 63 at The Australian set by Spieth during the final round past year while winning the tournament by six strokes, when Pampling was runner-up. Pampling started his round 14 shots off the lead and finished as the clubhouse leader at 6-under.
Defending champion Spieth holed out with his shot from the fairway on the par-4 17th for an eagle, then the American had a tap-in birdie on 18 for a 67.
Jordan Niebrugge, whose grandparents live in Teutopolis, finished tied for 40th on the scoreboard with a total of 289. There was a lot of stress and a lot of anxious moments but I came through with that lipping put on the last to get the trophy. “The latest technology actually lets us see the kinetics of a golf swing – the forces that make it happen”.
Instead, a single bogey at the 11th – and a series of birdie putts that shaved the hole – that cost the former world No. 1 the chance of a playoff and a 15th straight year with a trophy.
“It was one of the best fought rounds I’ve had and I can remember”, Spieth said, who had won two majors this year.
Spieth could not take advantage, missing a short putt for par to go back to 5-under.
His runner-up finish last year here also earned him a trip to this year’s Open Championship at St. Andrews, where he missed the cut.
More importantly for Jones, he joins seven-time champion Gary Player, six-time victor Jack Nicklaus and five-time victor Greg Norman with his name on the Stonehaven Cup.
“I’m not complaining I’m playing too much golf, I’m enjoying it. But yesterday, I was certainly a little flat…”
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He made the turn in 4-over 39 and was tied with Pampling for the lead, with Scott and Spieth one behind.
