Three birdies in his last five holes at Conway Farms saw Matt Jones come within a whisker of earning his first career start at the TOUR Championship in Atlanta next week where two Australians will feature.

Jones’ brave attempt to make the field forthe top-30 came up just shy, the Sydney-sider eventually finishing 33^rdin the final standings, the same number he started the week on.

Jason Day and Steven Bowditch have bothadvanced to East Lake, Day with an excellent chance to become the firstAustralian to claim the lucrative FedEx Cup title after winning his secondplay-off event in three weeks.

Knowing he needed a good finish inIllinois, Jones got off to a poor start with a 1-over round but hit back with abrilliant 5-under 66 on day two to put himself in with a chance.

However, a second 72 in the third round allbut sealed his fate, Jones needing to go super low on the final day to make arealistic push for Atlanta.

A birdie at the third gave some hope but adropped shot three holes later made the assignment challenging.

Turning in 1-under Jones had nothing tolose on the back nine and managed three late birdies without dropping a shotbut it turned out to be too little, too late.

While he didn’t manage a second Tour victoryto go with his first from 2014 the 35-year-old will consider 2015 a success ashe contended at a Major for the first time and posted his second best FedEx Cupfinish behind a 32^nd place result in 2013.

While Jones’ season is now officially over2014’s other maiden Australian winner, Steven Bowditch, has qualified for theseason ending TOUR Championship for the first time.

The Queenslander, who went one better thanJones by claiming a second Tour title this year, put the icing on the cake ofwhat has been a breakout season by finishing 24^th on the FedEx Cuplist at the end of the BMW tournament.

Not only did Bowditch claim his second winin 2015 but was also one of two Captain’s picks for next month’s PresidentsCup.

Always one of Australia’s most physicallytalented golfers Bowditch found the last piece of the puzzle required to go tothe top of the game in 2015, a level of consistency which had been previouslylacking.

With 17 made cuts and almost $3 million inearnings already it is easily Bowditch’s best year as a Professional.

The same is true for Jason Day whose playhas been nothing short of jaw dropping in 2015.

The 27-year-old has already put togetherthe best season by an Australian golfer in history and with an excellent chance to claim the $10 million bonus prize in Atlanta next week he’s not done yet.

Day took this week’s BMW Championship bythe scruff of the neck with two blistering opening rounds of 61-63 and while his weekend play wasn’t at the same level he’d already done enough to ensure asix shot win.

Five victories, including his first major,and the long sought after World Number One ranking have been Day’s reward forsustained brilliance in 2015 and even with one event to go this season 2016shapes as a mouth watering prospect for Australian golf fans.

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