Jones won’t be left out at Open
GOLF: Matt Jones is determined to show up the critics at the Australian Open starting tomorrow.
The 2017 Open is being billed as a battle between American three-time major champion Jordan Spieth and fellow former No.1 Jason Day, who is making his first return home in four years.
But Jones (pictured) has no intention of being the forgotten man at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney, having downed Spieth and Adam Scott by a shot on the same course when he won the Open in 2015.
Jones has played The Australian since he was 15.
“I am expecting to play well this week,” Jones said.
“It is a very comfortable course for me just to play. I can do it with my eyes closed off the tee.”
A “very disappointed” Jones made the tough decision to miss his Open title defence last year when he narrowly lost his full PFA Tour card and stayed in the US to shore up his future.
He had another lean season this year but was able to reclaim full playing rights with a top-five finish at the secondary web.com Tour Championship last month.
He was reminded that Spieth shot a stunning 63 in windy conditions on the course when he won his first Australian Open three years ago.
“What he did that year was pretty amazing,” Jones said.
“I wasn’t here playing that year but from what I heard it was playing pretty difficult.”
Jones will not be intimidated if he ends up in the final group with Spieth as they have been mates since the American arrived on tour.
“He is just a great guy, very down to earth, he hasn’t changed at all with all the success he has had,” Jones said.