Jones stumbled out of the blocks, making a double bogey and triple bogey on his front side to go out in 4-over 39 before rallying with a 2-under 34 on the back to win.
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Matt Jones is the 2015 Australian Open champion, producing his biggest tournament triumph on home soil at the club where he played pennant golf as a teenager, The Australian.
When Rod Pampling sat down to a drink with his current and former caddies on Saturday night, he basically gave himself no chance of winning the Australian Open.
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.
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 world number one ended up with an even-par 71 in the final round, but he never found his best form in his title defense.
While the final round looked like it would be a straight battle between Jones and Spieth, both players made horror starts to bring those behind them into the picture.
“I just have to wait and see now and cross fingers that it works out. 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.
Jones, Pampling, Scott and Spieth were frequently tied for the lead over the final hour, but a birdie on the 16th put the Australian a stroke clear.
The key shot in the round came on the 12th, after Jones hit his tee shot well right and his second shot ricocheted off a tree he was trying to hit past.
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.
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“To have my name on this trophy with like (Jack) Nicklaus, (Jack) Newton, Norman, all those guys, it’s a dream come true for me and it’s something that I can’t have taken away from me”. “Peter Dawson let me start the event off previous year and it was fantastic to have that honour”, said Pampling. “Unfortunately I missed the cut by a shot but links golf I have always loved it so playing at Troon is going to be unbelievable”, said Cullen.
