PGA Tour
The Honda Classic
Aussie Jones Cruises to Honda Classic Win
Australian Matt Jones scored an emphatic five-shot victory at the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The 40-year-old’s dominant performance produced the equal largest margin of victory in the event’s 49 years.
Jones, who was chasing his first PGA Tour title since winning the 2014 Houston Open, fired a course-record equalling 9-under 61 on Thursday. The stunning round was 10.5 shots better than the field average that day. He then carded an even par 70 on Friday and a 1-under 69 on Saturday to take a three-shot advantage into the final round over Americans Aaron Wise and J.B Holmes. Neither player mounted a serious challenge to Jones on Sunday.
Wise’s design of winning his second PGA Tour title ended with a four-putt triple bogey at the 10th hole. He signed for a 3-over 73 to finish at 4-under and tied 13th. Holmes, who was partnered in the final group with Jones, scraped a 9-over 79 around the notoriously difficult Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA National Champion Course. Holmes dropped to 2-over for the event and fell to tied 46th.
Jones began his final round with birdies at the 1st and 3rd holes and moved through the turn in 34 shots. The two-time Australian Open winner poured in three more birdies on the back nine to close with a 2-under 68 and reach 12-under. Jones was in total control all day finding 17 of the 18 greens in regulation.
American Brandon Hagy celebrated his 30th birthday with outright second place after a final round 4-under 66 got him to 7-under. Hagy, who was second to last alternate for the event, rebounded from a 6-over 76 on Saturday.
Five players shared third place at 6-under—Chase Seiffert (64), Brendan Steele (65), Denny McCarthy (67), Russell Henley (68) and C.T Pan (70).
Jones became the sixth playes this PGA Tour season to break a six-year or more win drought. He became the third Australian to win The Honda Classic after Stuart Appleby (1997) and Adam Scott (2016).
With his win, Jones has stretched the number of consecutive seasons Australian golfers have produce at least one win on the PGA Tour to 33. It is the longest stretch by any country other than the USA. The last winless season on the PGA Tour by an Australian golfer was in 1987.
The PGA Tour moves from the four-week Florida swing to Austin, Texas for the WGC—Match Play to be played at Austin Country Club. The stellar field includes 28 of the top 30 players in the world. American Kevin Kisner is the defending champion.
Final Scores
The Honda Classic
1. Matt Jones -12
2. Brandon Hagy -7
T3. Chase Seiffert -6
T3. Brendan Steele -6
T3. Denny McCarthy -6
T3. Russell Henley -6
T3. C.T Pan -6
Other Australians
T13. Adam Scott -4
T33. Cameron Davis E
T46. Lucas Herbert +2
MC. Cameron Percy
MC. Rhein Gibson
Photo credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
