BY BRENDAN JAMES

After nearly seven years and 154 starts on the PGA Tour, Matt Jones has broken through for his first win with a spectacular chip-in on the first play-off hole to defeat Matt Kuchar at the Shell Houston Open.

The 33-year-old not only gains a two-year PGA Tour exemption out of this victory but he has booked the last remaining spot in the field for the Masters, which starts at Augusta National on Thursday.

Matt Jones raises his arms in triumph after holing his pitch shot on the first play-off hole to win the Shell Houston Open. PHOTO: Getty Images

It made amends for a missed opportunity last September when he lipped out an 8-foot birdie putt on the last hole of the BMW Championship, which would have earned him a spot in the following week’s Tour Championship and ultimately a spot in the Masters.

Starting the final round six strokes adrift of 54-hole leader Kuchar, Jones’ bid for a maiden victory didn’t begin well with a bogey at the opening hole. The Sydneysider was able to creep his way back into contention with birdies at the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 8th holes. Heavy overnight rain and continuing showers throughout the round made scoring difficult, particular for the likes of Kuchar and Spain’s Sergio Garcia, who found birdies hard to come by.

Jones continued his hot run on the back nine where he converted birdies at the 10th and 11th holes to join the lead briefly with Kuchar.

Kuchar, who was over run by Queenslander Steven Bowditch in the final round of the Valero Texas Open last week, was content to play conservatively during the final nine holes and he collected three birdies of his own at the 10th, 13th and 15th holes.

When Jones missed the fairway and was forced to chip sideways on the tough par-4 17th he made his second bogey of the final round and was momentarily three shots behind Kuchar and seemingly out of the running.

But Kuchar, playing behind Jones in the final group, made a bogey of his own on the par-3 16th to narrow the margin again to two strokes.

Needing a birdie to set the clubhouse mark at 15 under, Jones striped his drive down the middle of the 18th fairway. His approach into the long par-4 finished 15 metres short of the hole and left him with a difficult two-putt. He only needed one putt though as his ball rolled beautifully over a ridge through the putting surface and straight into the cup. His final round 66 was only surpassed by Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who had earlier carded a seven under 65.

Having parred 17, Kuchar stood on the 18th tee needing a par to win. His drive, like Jones’, found the middle of the fairway but his hybrid approach shot was pulled straight left into the lake flanking the edge of the green. He then successfully got up and down for a bogey five to send the tournament into a play-off.

Matt Kuchar takes a penalty drop after hitting his approach into the lake on the 72nd hole. PHOTO: Getty Images

The pair headed back to the 18th tee and this time Jones pushed his drive into a fairway bunker and was left with a dodgy lie courtesy of deep rake grooves across the trap. He was left with no option but to lay-up short and right of the green. Kuchar, from the middle of the fairway, sliced his approach, again with the hybrid, into a greenside bunker to the right.

Jones told his caddie as they walked to his ball he was going to hole the 40-yard pitch shot. And he did!

When Kuchar was unable to follow him into the hole with his bunker shot, the title was Jones’.

It was a remarkable win for Jones who left Sydney’s Sutherland Shire to attend college in the United States nearly 15 years ago and then turned professional in 2001. He has lived and played in the US ever since and despite some close calls he has never been able to grab the winner’s cheque.

Jones accepts the trophy from former US President George Bush. PHOTO: Getty Images

This victory not only marks an important break through for Jones’ career but it continues the golden year Australian golfers are having on the PGA Tour. Four Australians – Jason Day (WGC Accenture World Match Play), John Senden (Valspar Championship), Bowditch (Valero Texas Open) and Jones (Houston Open) – have won on the PGA Tour in 2014. In fact, all those wins have come in just eight events since the end of February.

Of that group, only Day had his spot at the Masters assured and it appeared likely just four Aussies would again fly the flag at Augusta. Now, there will be a team of seven aiming to continue the winning ways of Australians in America in 2014.

LEADERBOARD

*1. Matt Jones (NSW)   68-68-71-66–273

2. Matt Kuchar (US)    66-67-68-72–273

3. Sergio Garcia (Esp)   67-65-73-70–275

4. Cameron Tringale (US)   68-68-69-71–276

5. Shawn Stefani (US)   67-69-73-69–278

*Won on first play-off hole

ALSO:

T69. Greg Chalmers (NSW)   69-74-75-76–294

For the full leaderboard, click here