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Jones chips into the Masters

Apr 07, 2014
Matt Jones with former United States President George H.W. Bush

Matt Jones with former United States President George H.W. Bush

Matt Jones has produced two of the shots of his life to storm to a playoff victory over Matt Kuchar at the Shell Houston Open and book the last ticket to the Masters.

Jones claimed his first US PGA Tour win by chipping in for a birdie from 30 metres in a sudden-death playoff to continue a golden run for Australians, who have now won four of the last eight events.

Earlier Jones fired a six-under 66 final round at the Golf Club of Houston, highlighted by rolling in a 46-foot birdie putt on the last, to post in at 15-under.

He then watched as Kuchar found water on his approach, bogeyed the last, and sent the tournament to a playoff.

Sent back to play the 18th again, Jones found the fairway bunker while Kuchar found the fairway.

It forced Jones to lay up short right of the green, while Kuchar leaked his shot into the greenside bunker.

Jones then sensationally holed his chip shot, a feat Kuchar couldn’t match from the sand, to win his first title.

“It’s amazing,” Jones said.

“It’s been a while coming, been out here for seven years now, and it’s good to finally get one as I’ve had a few chances. I’m quite happy right now.

“The tee shot I didn’t hit that great, but the second shot was in a rut (in the bunker) and you can’t get on the green from there so I decided to lay up.

“Then I’ve been working hard on my putting and chipping with my coach and as soon as that came out, it was exactly where I wanted it to (be).

“I actually told my caddie coming up here I would actually chip it in, so it was nice to do it.”

Jones grabbed the final ticket to the Masters, his first trip to Augusta National, with the win, as well as a two-year exemption on the US PGA Tour.

“I have a lot of tickets to go and buy right now for a lot of family back in Australia and friends in Scottsdale, so I’ve got a lot of changes and a lot of things to go and do now,” he said.

 

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