Jones aces Oz Open as Stenson seals Bahamas win with late eagle
- 08 Dec 2019
Matt Jones joined an elite few as he won his second Australian Open Sunday, resisting big pressure on the back nine from South African Louis Oosthuizen to clinch victory by a shot.
The 39-year-old stroked a final round 69 to book a place at the 2020 Open Championship at Royal St George’s.
On a warm, gusty day, Jones ended at 15-under for the tournament, one ahead of Oosthuizen, who warmed-up for the Presidents Cup against the Tiger Woods-led Americans in Melbourne this week with impressive form.
The world number 24 moved within two shots of Jones with back-to-back birdies on 10 and 11 and sunk a spectacular eagle on the 18th in his 66, leaving the Australian needing par to win on his last hole.
Jones clipped a tree on his second shot and landed in the sand, but held his nerve to reach the green and nail a pressure putt to claim victory.
Japan’s Takumi Kanaya, the world’s top-ranked amateur, and Australian Aaron Pike ended tied for third, six shots behind Jones. Both also qualified for next year’s British Open.
England’s Paul Casey, the highest-ranked player in the field at 14, hit a final round 72 to tie for fifth among a group of five, including exciting South Korean amateur Yu Chun-am.
Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, the Australian Open defending champion, finished 14 off the pace while local hero Adam Scott missed the cut.
Meanwhile, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson snatched a dramatic victory at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas on Saturday, conjuring a late eagle to win by one shot ahead of Spain’s Jon Rahm.
Stenson, who started the day one off the lead, carded a six-under-par 66 to finish on 18 under with a four-round aggregate 270 at Albany Golf Club in New Providence.
Stenson’s win came after a brilliant eagle three on the par-five 15th, the 43-year-old nailing his second from the fairway to within a few inches for the easiest of tap-ins.
The eagle gave Stenson the lead after earlier birdies on the 10th and 13th holes followed a bogey six on the ninth.
Rahm, who had started the day one shot off of Stenson, carded a six-under-par 66 to finish on 17 under.
Patrick Reed finishing third on 16 under, two off the lead.
Tournament host Tiger Woods meanwhile was unable to mount a decisive final round charge, posting a three-under-par 69 to end in fourth place on 14 under.
Agence France-Presse
