Spieth wins second Australian Open after playoff

SYDNEY: Two- t ime major champion Jordan Spieth won the Australian Open for the second time in three years after defeating Ashley Hall and Cameron Smith in a sudden- death playoff in Sydney on Sunday.

Spieth won at the first playoff hole with a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th green at Royal Sydney Golf Club as Hall was unable to convert from eight feet to extend the playoff.

The world number five shot a final round three-under-par 69 to join clubhouse leaders Hall and Smith at 12-under-par, needing a par putt from seven feet on the 72nd hole to get into the playoff.

Smith -- who shot a final round 66 -- missed a 40-foot birdie putt in the playoff.

Hall, the world number 902, made eight birdies on Sunday to card a 66, but could only make par at the playoff hole.

“We made the putts at the very end that mattered,” American former world number one Spieth said.

“I had a chance last year on 18 (to force a playoff) and didn’t hit a great putt and this time I had that same chance with a very similar putt in the playoff and capitalised so I drew back on that a little.

“I didn’t have much confidence in my swing on the last couple of holes today in regulation and was able to calm down in-between.”

The 2015 US Masters and US Open champion carded six birdies and three bogeys in his final round and moved to 12-under when he holed a 40-foot birdie putt at the par-five 16th. — AFP