Matthew Jones: Not Intimidated
BY Anthony Powter | 05 Mar 2008
Matthew Jones has come along way since we last interviewed him in September 2007. He is feeling at home on the PGA Tour, his recent results confirm this, no more so than at last week’s Honda Classic, at Palm Beach, Florida. Jones had played into contention after opening rounds 66-67-71, to be poised for his maiden PGA Tour victory, from only his seventh career start.
He would finish The Honda Classic equal 4th, record his first top 10 PGA Tour finish, adding to the existing four top-25 finishes Jones has achieved so far this season from six starts. It’s certainly been a dream induction in his rookie year on the PGA Tour.
“It was a great experience to be playing in contention at The Honda Classic,” remarked Jones this evening from America.
“No, I don’t find the PGA Tour intimidating at all. For me it’s being a dream start and following the re-ranking process, I’ve secured more starts. I feel I fit right in here and it’s all starting to finally happen.”
Jones is currently 38th on the money list with just under US$430,000 in prize money. That’s already US$130,000 more than what he made for the whole of the 2007 Nationwide Tour season, and what he made for the previous three seasons in combined total.
“Sure the PGA Tour is different,” said Jones.
“There are a lot more perks for a start. Like I get to have my own hire car at events, you get treated like royalty and obviously the money is greater than what you can earn on the Nationwide Tour. It’s just bigger and better, that’s the best way to describe it.”
Matthew Jones a classic Aussie achiever, determined, yet quietly confident, as well as acutely aware of what’s needed to succeed on the world’s richest tour.
All the hard effort of playing with only conditional status on the Nationwide Tour during the period from 2002-06, as well as falling back into the dreaded Monday qualifiers, has paid off for Jones. His also found a coach back home in Australia with Gary Barter, who he knew could get him onto the PGA Tour and a person to whom he owes so much.
At the present, for Jones it’s about consolidating his game and improving his consistency, particularly with his driving.
“If there’s one area that I need to improve on, it’s with my driving. You miss a fairway on these courses, and you’ll probably drop a shot. The courses are definitely harder and the conditions more challenging,” remarked Jones, when asked about what’s needed to keep his results going.
Following the re-ranking process Jones has secured more starts on Tour this season, after finishing 7th on the 2007 Nationwide money list, where he made the cut in 18 of 25 starts, including nine top-25 finishes and was as a runner-up four times, one shy of the Nationwide Tour record.
“The re-ranking effect makes a huge difference, knowing you’ve got starts with some of the bigger events.”
“It’s just so competitive out there, yet on the range and on the course, you don’t feel just because it’s your first year, that it’s at all intimidating. Think that and you won’t last long,” were Jones’ parting comments.
Jones was eager to check his emails and see if Gary Barter had responded with some comments on keeping that driver in play. That’s the nature of Matthew Jones, a perfectionist when it comes to finding his swing, yet one that cannot be intimidated on the course.
