Jordan Spieth keen to defend Australian Open crown in 2017

Jordan Spieth, the World No. 5, won his second Australian Open title in three years Sunday, courtesy a four-metre birdie at the Royal Sydney.

After prevailing in a three-man sudden death, Spieth joined the likes of Robert Allenby, Greg Chalmers, Aaron Baddeley, Peter Lonard, Peter Senior and Frank Phillips as the only golfers to win the prestigious Stonehaven Cup on two occasions. Spieth had also won the tournament in 2014.

Later in the day, Spieth learned that golfing legends Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player had won the tournament six and seven times respectively when the Australian Open was regarded as golf's unofficial fifth major during the 1960s and 70s.

“I feel pretty poorly about two (titles), if those guys have done it so much. We love coming here,” Spieth, who won the Masters and the US Open in 2015, said, per news.com.au.

Spieth said that he planned on returning to Sydney next year to defend his crown. “Certainly plan on it (in 2017). It’s hard to tell a year from now. But how can you argue with coming here and gaining the confidence that we’ve had out of this event? I’ve cut out a lot of overseas travel this year, but we still came here because that’s how important this event is to us.”

Jordan Spieth delivers in clutch

Spieth's tournament-clinching birdie came in the first extra hole (playoff) after he finished tied with Australians Ash Hall and Cameron Smith at the end of the regular round of 18 holes. Spieth was entering the playoff round on a streak of poor shots but made the big shot when it counted.

The Texan acknowledged that his performance in the playoff round will help him during future tournaments. "The way we played the playoff, I think it's going to do wonders for me. I've been in a bit of a stall hitting the shots when they mattered.

"To hit those two shots in there right where I wanted to hit them and then to make the putt with it, is really big going forward and it's something I can draw on all next year," Spieth told reporters.

Entering the final day, Spieth was trailing overnight leader Geoff Ogilvy, who lost the advantage on Sunday when he came unstuck on the third-last hole of the regular round. Ogilvy was forced to take a double-bogey after a trip to the trees of the lush green Royal Sydney.

Jordan Spieth, 23, is currently ranked No.5 in the world behind fellow American Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson.