Golf

McIlroy closes with 65 as Jones pips Kuchar in play-off

Australian chips in from 42 yards in a play-off to earn a ticket to the US Masters

Matt Jones of Australia celebrates after chipping in for birdie on the 18th hole during the final round of the Shell Houston Open in Humble, Texas. Jones went on to defeat Matt Kuchar in the first hole of the play-off. Photograph: Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Matt Jones of Australia celebrates after chipping in for birdie on the 18th hole during the final round of the Shell Houston Open in Humble, Texas. Jones went on to defeat Matt Kuchar in the first hole of the play-off. Photograph: Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Mon Apr 07 2014 - 10:05

Matt Jones chipped in from 42 yards in a play-off to earn a ticket to the US Masters this week as Matt Kuchar let victory slip through his fingers at the Shell Houston Open on Sunday.

Jones’s remarkable shot on the first play-off hole came after Kuchar bogeyed two of the final three holes on his final round to throw away the lead he had held overnight.

In contrast Jones carded a final-round 66, highlighted by a 46-yard putt on the final hole, to claim his first PGA Tour title, more than a million US dollars in prize money, and a ticket to Augusta.

Darren Clarke makes his way up the ninth fairway towards the elevated green during a practice round before the US Masters tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club yesterday. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters Darren Clarke makes his way up the ninth fairway towards the elevated green during a practice round before the US Masters tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club yesterday. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters
Darren Clarke makes his way up the ninth fairway towards the elevated green during a practice round before the US Masters tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club yesterday. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters Darren Clarke makes his way up the ninth fairway towards the elevated green during a practice round before the US Masters tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club yesterday. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

But while Jones made all the right moves on Sunday, Kuchar could have nobody to blame but himself for letting the title get away from him.

Overnight leader
The overnight leader had made steady progress throughout his final round – recovering from early bogeys with three birdies on the back nine – and appeared like he might be able to do enough to hold off the Australian's challenge.

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But the pressure exerted by Jones’ clubhouse lead told and it all fell apart for Kuchar late in the day as he bogeyed the 16th and 18th holes to slip into a play-off.

Rory McIlroy showed a welcome return to form with the Masters imminent and he shot a final round of 65.

Elsewhere, Italian Marco Crespi claimed his maiden win on the Race to Dubai after claiming the NH Collection Open title with a two-stroke victory in Spain.

The 35-year-old two-time Challenge Tour winner, who finished the third round one shot off the lead, recorded five birdies and two bogeys to finish with a 69 yesterday to claim a 10-under-par total for victory.

Crespi, who impressed with four birdies in the first nine holes, was delighted with his win.

“I started very well today. I birdied the first and that gave me the confidence to go low and that’s it. I just had to manage my pressure on the back nine,” he said.

Two shots off the lead were home challenger Jordi Garcia Pinto and Scotland’s Richie Ramsay, who finished in a tie for second on eight under, while Chile’s Felipe Aguilar and third-round leader Matthew Nixon of England were one stroke further back.

Nixon, who led following a superb 65 at La Reserva de Sotogrande on Saturday, suffered in the final round as he carded four bogeys, along with an eagle on the 15th and a birdie on the fourth, leaving him with 73 on the par-72 course.

Bad shot
Crespi admitted it was tough, with Aguilar coming close at one point before losing a couple of shots, but he was confident he could win it. He added: "Felipe was very close, but he made a couple of mistakes so he made it easier for me.

“I lost a couple of shots on 12 and 13. On 12 I hit a very bad eight iron to the green, my only bad shot of the day. On 13 I had a very long iron, a three iron and it wasn’t a really bad shot.

“But then I birdied the next. I really like the 14th because I birdied it every day.

“Anyway, I played very well and I am very happy.”

Damien McGrane was best of the Irish with a three-under tally following a closing 72. Kevin Phelan was one-over after a 71 and Simon Thornton finished 11 over following a final 77. ,