Tour News

Tour Mash: Jones edges Spieth, Scott in Australia

Published

10 years ago

Nov 30, 2015

Australian Open

Matthew Jones led the 2015 PGA Championship after 36 holes at Whistling Straits, but had a weekend to forget. He drew on that experience at the 2015 Australian Open and captured his country’s national championship by one stroke over Adam Scott and defending champion Jordan Spieth.

Sunday wasn’t the most elegant of scoring days for those in the mix. Jones began the day bogey-double bogey, then added a triple bogey on the ninth for good measure. Despite those miscues, he remained at the top of the leaderboard. After a shaky trip from tee to green on the final hole, Jones was able to sneak in his 5-foot par putt and sneak out of Sydney with the coveted title.

Alfred Dunhill Championship

In 2004, Charl Schwartzel won his first Alfred Dunhill Championship (South Africa) at the age of 21. In 2013, he won his second. Schwartzel’s third victory in the last four years at the event (Branden Grace won last year) came by four strokes over France’s Gregory Bourdy.

On Sunday, Schwartzel went out in 1-over par to offer the field a fighting chance. An inward nine of 3-under dashed all hopes and sealed the win for the 2013 Masters champion.

Rod Pampling

He didn’t win the Australian Open this weekend, but Rod Pampling offered his best Jordan Spieth Sunday comeback impression. After spotting the field a stroke with a first-hole bogey at the Australian Golf Club, Pampling rattled off nine birdies in his next 16 holes, then capped the round with an eagle on the closing hole for a total of 61.

Pampling finished tied for fourth, and broke the course record that Spieth set last year (63). The 46-year-old also earned a spot in next year’s Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Licensed To Mess With Alligators

Not every tour pro can hire a Michael Greller, a Fanny Sunneson or a Jim “Bones” Mackay. In the case that they’re not available, I’d recommend making an offer to Christy Kroboth, on the off chance that she might accept. Kroboth helps corral and relocate gators in the Houston area, most recently on the River Pointe golf course.

“I am trained,” she said. “We are licensed to mess with alligators.”

On a track like TPC Sawgrass or any other place where critters make an appearance, Kroboth would be twice the asset.

Read more about the incident here.

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Ronald Montesano

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

5 Comments

Ronald Montesano

Nov 30, 2015 at 8:58 pm

Thanks, Ian. One of these days, I’ll learn to search the internet properly. Schwartzel was tied for 26th last year, so unfortunately I wasn’t even close in my error.

Reply Report comment
- Ian
  
  Dec 1, 2015 at 2:12 am
  
  No problem – I’m South African so I follow the SA guys closer. The win for Grace was the start of an amazing year!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Ronald Montesano
    
    Dec 1, 2015 at 5:54 pm
    
    I agree. He was terrific at Chambers Bay, as well.
    
    Reply Report comment
Ian

Nov 30, 2015 at 10:29 am

Small heads up – Branden Grace won the Alfred Dunhill at Leopard Creek last year.

Reply Report comment
- Zak Kozuchowski
  
  Nov 30, 2015 at 11:14 am
  
  Thank you for the edit, Ian.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

3 days ago

May 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

Check out links to all our photos below.