Australian Open: American golfer Jordan Spieth wins in playoff

Jordan Spieth wins his second Australian Open after holding his nerve in a three-man playoff at Royal Sydney.

America's Jordan Spieth celebrates making a birdie in a play off on the 18th hole to win the Australian Open Golf Championship at the Royal Sydney Golf Club in Sydney.

Jordan Spieth has won his second Australian Open after holding his nerve in a three-man playoff at Royal Sydney Golf Club today.

Spieth, who won his first Stonehaven Cup in two years at The Australian Golf Club, made birdie at three of his final seven holes to force his way into a share of the lead with young Queenslander Cameron Smith and Victorian Ashley Hall at 12 under.

He then sunk a three metre putt for birdie at the first playoff hole to secure the Stonehaven Cup for the second time. Hall and Smith shared second spot, two shots clear of a group of five players including Aaron Baddeley, Geoff Ogilvy and Rod Pampling.

The former world No.1 looked to have played his way out of the tournament when he made three bogeys in the middle of his round. At that point, Victorian Geoff Ogilvy was a runaway leader.

However, Ogilvy stumbled badly late in his round and Spieth took advantage as he secured his third win of the year, a victory which should help his quest to regain the world No.1 ranking.

Having started the year as the best player in the world, Spieth entered the Australian Open at No.5 after a run of indifferent results but he showed glimpses of his very best over his four rounds in Sydney, putting the exclamation point on his performance with his display on the last day.

There was a consolation prize for both Smith and Hall, who along with Baddeley secured the three British Open spots which were on offer.

“It’s great - I love (Royal) Birkdale,” Hall said.

“I’ve played there. I played an amateur there in 2005. So it’s nothing new to me. I actually qualified ... for the Open in 2012 when it was at Lytham, so I actually played Birkdale that week as well and stuff.

“So it’s going to be fun.”

Former champion Adam Scott was among the chasing pack at six under after struggling with his short game. He heads to Melbourne tomorrow to begin preparing for the World Cup, where he will represent Australia alongside Marc Leishman.