Jordan Spieth set to defend his Australian Open title in November
Tuesday 21 July 2015 12:47, UK
Masters and US Open champion Jordan Spieth will return to Sydney in late November to defend his Australian Open title, organisers said on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old Texan won the Stonehaven Cup by six shots last year and with his recent run of form is bound to increase the size of the galleries at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney from November 26-29.
Spieth fell just short of winning a third consecutive major in the Open at St Andrews on Monday, finishing one shot out of a playoff, won by compatriot Zach Johnson.
Had he managed a third major in a row, Spieth would have joined Ben Hogan and set off for an unprecedented Grand Slam of professional majors at the year's remaining major, the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits next month.
Spieth played one of the greatest rounds in the history of the Australian Open at The Australian course last November to win the Stonehaven Cup by six shots.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to return to Sydney," Spieth said in a statement on Tuesday. "I had a fantastic time in Australia. I can't wait to come back and hopefully defend the Stonehaven Cup."
Spieth, who turns 22 next week, used last year's victory in Australia as a springboard for a run of success on the PGA Tour this season.
He won the Hero World Challenge last December and then the Valspar Championships before clinching his first major title at Augusta National in April by four shots. He then claimed the US Open at Chambers Bay by one stroke last month to put him within touching distance of the world No 1, Rory McIlroy.
"It has been an amazing six months since I left Australia.
"Shooting 63 in the final round and winning at The Australian Golf Club was one of the proudest moments of my career.
"To see my name on the Stonehaven Cup alongside all the champions of the game gave me great confidence."
