Brendan Jones has come agonisingly close to victory finishing one shot out of a play-off between Japanese superstar Hideki Matsuyama and countryman Hiroshi Iwata at the prestigious Dunlop Phoenix event in Japan.

Jones shared third place with American Jordan Spieth, a drawcard at this week’s Australian Open, after a final round 68 moved him to 14-under-par for the week.

A bogey at the par-4 15th proved fatal for the 13 time Japan Tour champion as he couldn’t recover the shot over the closing holes.

Jones told Bruce Young at his website brendanjonesgolf.com that he was both pleased and disappointed with the result.

"I’m disappointed that I came so close to winning and didn’t," he said.

"I had chances but couldn’t make the ones I needed to make. I guess I should be happy but now it’s still a bit raw‏.

"I had an 8 footer on 16 that I hit perfect and lipped it out. Then hit an unbelievable 4 iron into 18 that I thought was stiff but it just went over the back and I had a run at the chip and it went about 10 feet past.

"The putt was on line but just ran out of legs. I played better than where I finished which is disappointing."‏

While frustrating to come so close without the win Jones will be pleased his troublesome wrist, which saw him miss much of the first half of the year, is obviously completely healed.

Jones was the pick of the Australasians in the event followed by Brad Kennedy (T11) and Steve Conran and David Smail (T22).

Scott Strange missed the cut while Kurt Barnes withdrew from the tournament.

Related Links

Results / Dunlop Phoenix Final Results