Matt Jones Overcomes Brutal Pace, Nightmare Pairing To Win Honda And Head Back To The Masters

Two-time Australian Open winner Matt Jones returning to the PGA Tour winner’s circle after major putting struggles was impressive.

But the faster-than-most Aussie had to deal with a dreadful final round pace that had the leading groups taking 4:20 (twosomes!) and alongside never-ready J.B. Holmes, who stumbled to a 79.

Holmes, not that he cares or will ever change, had his lack of preparedness to play called out during the NBC broadcast. (At least, the parts where I remained awake.)

From Craig Dolch’s story the Palm Beach Post on Jones winning the Honda and heading back to Augusta:

The five-shot victory tied the largest in tournament history, matching Jack Nicklaus in 1977 and Camilo Villegas in 2010. Jones had gone 174 starts since winning his first PGA Tour title at the 2014 Houston Open, holing a chip in a playoff to beat Matt Kuchar.

“I’ve had some tough times in between that (win),” an emotional Jones said afterward. “Seven years … I had some tough times putting, worked hard and it finally paid off.

Massive props to Matt Jones. PGA National played super slippery all afternoon, nobody else in the final 7 groups shot under par and Jones, who slept on a big lead, shot 68 and gapped the field. Even better, he hit every shot like there was a 10-second shot clock. Respect!

— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) March 21, 2021

Matt Jones deserves some sort of Nobel Prize after spending the last 17 years of his life waiting to finish the back nine with JB Holmes

— Amanda Rose (@amandagolf59) March 21, 2021

PGA Tour highlights, including Jones showing emotion just seconds after sinking the final putt: