N.j.'s Brett Jones On Hand As Brother Matt Wins Australian Open

Matt Jones was no stranger to the Emirates Australian Open – but this time he came with a twist.

The world No. 65 returned to his Sydney home alongside older brother Brett, who made his Open debut aged 40 on Nov. 26-29. Brett Jones won the State Open in 2009.

What transpired was something the Jones family will never forget.

Matt Jones hung on to win the Australian Open ahead of Adam Scott and defending champion Jordan Spieth by one stroke on Sunday, Nov. 29. Brett had shot 71-77 and missed the cut by one shot.

Matt Jones had a three-shot lead heading into the final round at the Australian Golf Club but a two-over 73 almost saw his second PGA Tour title slip away.

The Australian was three over for his round after two holes, a bogey on the first immediately followed by a double at the first par three. Jones recovered with two birdies but a triple-bogey seven on the ninth left him with work to do on the back nine.

Jones said in a press conference: “I got the job done. There was a lot of stress and a lot of anxious moments but I came through with that lipping putt on the last to get the trophy.

“To have my name on this trophy with (Jack) Nicklaus, (Jack) Newton, (Greg) Norman, all those guys, is a dream come true for me and something that can never be taken away.'

Matt Jones, 35, who had his breakthrough win on the US PGA Tour in 2014, closed his 2015 season in style with a string of strong performances, including a T4 finish at the Deutsche Bank Championship in the FedEx Cup playoffs and leading the PGA Championship eventually won by countryman Jason Day at the halfway mark.

The Jones brothers, both based in the United States, played together as pros just once in the 2005 Jacobs Creek Open in South Australia on the then Nationwide Tour before coming together again on the major championship stage at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

Brett, a prolific winner in regional tournaments in the northeastern United States, is teaching pro at the exclusive Due Process Stable Golf Club in Colts Neck, N.J. He has won six local area championships, including the NJSGA State Open in 2009, when he was named New Jersey PGA Player of the Year.

His top 20 finish in July at the 2015 PGA Professional National Championship at Philadelphia Cricket Club enabled him to join Matt at this summer’s PGA Championship.

“I was honored to play in my national Open for the first time as a 40-year-old rookie – and the fact that I had the opportunity to share the experience with my brother made it even greater,” Brett said.