Defending champion Jordan Spieth, right, lamenting a bad shot on the seventh green at the Australian Open on Friday.
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A second bogey at the 16th dropped him deep into the pack again and, although he finished with a birdie at the 18th, the 22-year-old was left on three under feeling he had missed an opportunity.
Spieth was tied in 19th place on day one after recording three birdies, as well as three bogeys in a level par 71 on the Australian Club course. It appeared thsat the top would be more closely bunched, but Jones birdied the last two holes, likely crushing the dreams of those at 1 under, including Aussie icon Scott.
“It was obviously quite a fortunate break on the 17th to go in”, Spieth said.
“They’ve just gotten a little bit easier day-to-day and my putting’s been just a slightly better day today, and so I do believe that I have yet to peak at this tournament”.
Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, in the group tied for third, had the best round of the day, shooting 66 after an opening 73. It was one of the best fought rounds I’ve had.
“So to completely rebound with that birdie on five was key as that settled me down so much as it was fantastic golf from there on”.
However, the two-time major victor will need to perform better from tee-to-green in the concluding round, having hit just 10 greens in regulation on day three – although he needed just 24 putts.
Local hope Jones, though, is still the player to beat after he maintained his halfway lead.
“I’d love nothing more than that”, continued the 35-year-old.
Sydney-born Jones, who is based in the United States, carded a third-round 68 to be 10 under for the tournament. “I watched (Greg) Norman win it and (Adam) Scott win in it. I’ve been close before and tomorrow I’m going to do all I can to put my name on the trophy alongside (Jack) Nicklaus and Norman and those guys”. It would be incredible. “I have absolutely no sense of what sort of score it’s going to be at the end of the tournament, but if I play well, I’ve got every chance to be there”, he added.
“So what I need to do is to throw out thinking about the final round 63 I shot here in Sydney previous year as I will now have to accept the battle will be tight as Matt (Jones) is a tough guy to chase”, he said.
“So it’s in my hands”.
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Jones leads by three over Spieth with another two shots back to Lismore’s (NSW) Rhein Gibson while Aron Price and first round leader, Lincoln Tighe, are another shot back and sharing 4th.
