Jordan Spieth to defend Australian Open title

Two-time major winner Jordan Spieth will return to the Australian Open golf championship as he attempts to win it for a third time in four years.

World No.3 Spieth won at Royal Sydney last year in a three-way playoff with local hopes Ashley Hall and Cameron Smith and he has now committed to defend the title at The Australian from November 23-26.

The 23-year-old American won his maiden Australian Open title in 2014 with a final-round 63 a The Australian before narrowly missing a playoff a year later when he finished tied for second with Adam Scott, a shot behind Matt Jones, at the same Sydney venue.

Spieth claimed his 10th US PGA tour victory at Travelers Championship in Connecticut last month.

He attributed his win in the 2014 Australian Open as providing confidence ahead of his stellar 2015 season, when his rose to No.1 in the world and won the Masters and US Open.

"The Australian Open seems to grow in stature among the world's players every year," he said.

"It should be a great test again. I can't wait."