Scott birdied the par-5 18th, but Jones’ par on the same hole was good enough to win.
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When Jones also made a horror triple-bogey at the ninth after recovering birdies at four and six, it allowed Pampling to briefy share the lead in the clubhouse.
However, in the end, Jones played 1-under golf the rest of the way, sinking a 4-foot par putt on the last hole to secure his first Australian Open title. “I made a couple of bad swings and a couple of bad decisions” Spieth said.
Australia’s Matthew Jones watches a shot during his win at the Australian Open.
Scott came up a shot short of winning the Australian Open on Sunday, finishing tied with defending champion Jordan Spieth behind victor and fellow countryman Matt Jones.
A very emotional Jones, a member of The Australian Club, said: “That was very stressful, it wasn’t comfortable out there for me”.
Pampling would have to cancel his flight – and the bookies dramatically reel in their odds – as the 46-year-old produced one of the greatest single-round performances in the Australian Open’s 100-year history. He got the momentum going again by picking up two more shots at the 12th and 14th but said that saves for par at the 15th and 16th had been just as important in setting up his brilliant finish.
Adam Scott shot a 65 to surge into contention as he finished alongside Spieth in a tie for second.
The US PGA tour regular followed some pretty illustrious footsteps by clinching the Stonehaven Cup with American Jordan Spieth and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy the names immediately above his on the trophy.
“We’re the ones who had the most holes remaining so we control it”, he said, “and for him to go back to whatever he was, 1 or 2 up on me at the time there, was really kind of a game changer”.
Spieth thought Saturday’s round was one of the “best fought” of his professional career after he started the day with three bogeys in the first four holes.
“I battled away today, which is fantastic the way I did, I could have let it slip and let it get away”.
Nick Cullen (70) and Lincoln Tighe (72) shared fifth at three under.
His runner-up finish last year at the Australian Open earned him a trip to this year’s Open Championship at St. Andrews, where he missed the cut.
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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.
