Flying under the radar no more, Matt Jones is eyeing major championship glory after taking down world No.1 Jordan Spieth to win the 100th Australian Open in a riveting climax.
The largely unheralded Jones burst from the shadows of celebrated countrymen Adam Scott and Jason Day with a hugely popular one-stroke triumph over defending champion Spieth and Scott on his home course at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney on Sunday.
After starting the day three shots clear, Jones closed with a rollercoaster two-over-par 73 to edge out fast-finishing Scott (65) and Spieth (71) with a 72-hole total of eight-under 276.
"It was very stressful out there," he said after regaining his nerve following a horror triple-bogey seven on the ninth to relinquish his big overnight advantage.
"I've watched the Australian Open many years growing up - watching (Greg) Norman especially because he was my idol.
"Just to have my name on that trophy with Norman, it's something I'll never forget.
"It's a dream come true for me and something I can't have taken away from me."
Jones not only joins Norman on the Stonehaven Cup but golfing legends Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, not to mention Spieth, Scott and Rory McIlroy.
But now he is dreaming even bigger.
Jones' tension-filled triumph earned him a coveted start at next year's British Open at Royal Troon.
Having led this year's US PGA Championship - which Day ultimately won playing alongside Spieth in the final group - at the halfway mark, Jones is hoping that near-miss and Sunday's experience will elevate him to major player status in 2016.
"I'm in the British Open so hopefully I can win that one," he said.
"It was very stressful today and it was a new experience for me.
"I had it at the PGA but I battled away today all day, which is fantastic the way I did.
"I could have let it slip away but I fought it out and that's what I can use next year on tour.
"I'd like to think I could compete with those guys at the majors and I'll take as much confidence as I can from this that I can go out and beat them.
"I did it at The Australian Open so why can't I go and do it at the British Open."
Spieth had the chance to force a playoff but missed a four-metre eagle putt on the last before Jones coolly holed his metre-long par putt to clinch his first big win on home soil.
Scott began the final round nine shots adrift of Jones but briefly held the clubhouse lead after shooting a sizzling six-under 65.
Alas it wasn't enough to extend the former world No.1's proud record of winning at least one tournament every year since 2001.
Veteran Rod Pampling finished a gallant fourth, two shots behind Jones, after firing a spectacular course-record 10-under 61 and sharing the lead for almost two hours late on Sunday.
Pampling's reward for the round of his life was qualification for next year's Open as one of the top three finishers not already exempt.
Nick Cullen (70) grabbed the third spot after Jones and Pampling by sharing fifth at three under with the lower-ranked Lincoln Tighe (72).
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