Date: November 02, 2007
Author: Steve Orme

Jones hoping for happy home-coming

Aussie golfer Matthew Jones will look to cap his most successful year as a professional with victory at the MFS Australian Open in Sydney next month. Four second-place finishes on the Nationwide Tour this season elevated Jones to seventh spot on the money list, securing his PGA Tour card for the 2008 season. Despite having not previously contested the prestigious tournament, Jones should feel at very comfortable at the Australian Golf Club, where he happens to be a former club champion and current member. And the 27-year-old confirmed he holds high hopes of a happy home-coming in what will be his first professional tournament on home soil since 2001. “I&aposm definitely coming back to win, there&aposs no other reason to be in the tournament for,” Jones said. When asked the secret to his success this season Jones said he had learned to manage his game more efficiently. “My course management&aposs much better. Understanding where to miss, what pins to go for, when to just play for the middle of the green and take a two-putt or if you get lucky you make a one-putt,” Jones said. “I would definitely say that&aposs been the best part for me.” Looking ahead to his rookie season on golf&aposs most lucrative tour, Jones cited the PGA Tour success of his former Nationwide colleagues as evidence he too can hold his own on the big stage. “Looking at what my friends have done from last year&aposs Nationwide Tour class, and I&aposve played with them and I know I can compete with them,” he said. “Brandt Snedeker&aposs won (on the PGA Tour), Jeff Quinney, Boo Weekley, I played with them the year before and they&aposve all done very well.” “I&aposm going out there full of confidence.” “As for my expectations, honestly, I&aposm going to go out there with the goal of finishing top 100 to top 70 on the money list – that might be a bit too much it might not be.” “It&aposs hard to get a good gauge from it right now but to keep my card and just learn from the experience and learn from being out there,” he said.