World No. 1 and defending champion Jordan Spieth moved to within four shots of the lead at the Australian Open yesterday, trailing Sydney-born Matt Jones, who took full advantage of his course knowledge to go top at seven-under.
Spieth battled his way through a “frustrating” day to record a three-under 68, moving to three-under overall.
He kick-started his round with a first-hole birdie, managing three other birdies, but also back-to-back bogeys at the 15th and 16th.
Photo: EPA
“The cross winds again made it a guessing game out there today, leaving a 50-50 shot and we got less than 50 per cent of them right,” Spieth said.
“It just made it so frustrating as I was striking the ball well and it was a round I could have shot six or seven-under-par, and I just didn’t have any chances,” he said.
“I had a lot of shots right at the pin, like at nine and 10, and in the middle of the round I could have got something going, but managed to save myself when I got it wrong,” he added.
Jones, the winner of last year’s Shell Houston Open, took full advantage of his Australian Club course knowledge, also shooting a 68 to move to seven-under.
Arizona-based Jones, 35, joined the Australian Club as a 15-year-old, and named Greg Norman and Tiger Woods as his inspiration for pursuing the title.
“It’s been pretty cool to look at the black-and-white photographs of the former champions in the clubhouse and to have my name on the trophy beside all those great golfers would be amazing,” Jones said.
Rookie Australian-born pro Todd Sinnott shot a 70 to move into second place at four-under.
The efforts of Jones and Sinnott also have them in line to secure one of the three places for The Open next year at Royal Troon in Scotland.
Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, who is contesting his first Australian Open, was well positioned after posting the best round of the day, a five-under 66, to be among five players, including former Australian Open winner Geoff Ogilvy (71), at three-under.
England’s Lee Westwood, who played alongside Spieth and Ogilvy, shot a 72 to be at even-par and tied with close friend and European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke.
Clarke, who took the gleaming Ryder Cup trophy to Australia for its first visit, bounced back from a first-round 75 to grab five birdies in a four-under 67.
Taiwan’s highest-placed player was Pan Cheng-tsung, who was tied for 23rd place on one-over after a 70, a shot ahead of Taiwanese amateur Yu Chun-an, who carded a 76.
Fellow Taiwanese Liu Yen-hung carded an 83 and missed the cut.
Hometown favorite Adam Scott failed to record a single birdie in a score of 73 for a two-over tally, but remained inside the four-over cutoff mark.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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