Australia’s Matt Jones leads the race for qualifying places in The 145TH Open after today’s second round of the Emirates Australian Open.
The 35-year-old, playing on his home course at The Australian Golf Club, compiled a three-under-par 68 in breezy conditions, to take a three shot lead in the Championship at seven-under-par and hold the first of the qualifying places for The Open.
Jones, who won last year on the PGA TOUR and finished tied 30th in The Open at St Andrews this year, said The Open is the Major Championship he most wants to win.
“It’s probably my favourite because it’s similar to playing golf in Australia, what we grew upon – windy, fast, hard and that’s why I’m playing the Australian Open – to win the Australian Open and get a start in The Open,” he added. “It’s a great way to be able to get into a Major for myself and for a lot of other guys that wouldn’t otherwise get a lot of opportunity to do it.”
Jones’ fellow Australian, Todd Sinnott, holds the second qualifying place after posting a steady one-under-par 70 to move to four-under-par for the championship. The 23-year-old Victorian dropped a shot at the 5th but bounced back with birdies at the 15th and the 18th. Sinnott turned professional in January after securing his PGA Tour of Australasia playing card with a second-placed finish at the Q-School. He will make his Major Championship debut if he qualifies.
The third qualifying place is held by former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy, who recorded a level par 71, to sit on three-under-par. Ogilvy is tied with Jordan Spieth, who is already exempt for The Open, as well as Aron Price, Nicolas Colsaerts and Lincoln Tighe, and holds the place by virtue of his higher position in the Official World Golf Ranking.
The 2015 Emirates Australian Open is the first event in The Open Qualifying Series and three players who finish in the top ten and ties who are not already exempt, will earn places in The Open at Royal Troon, which will be played from 14-17 July 2016.