HE’S long been regarded among the best – and certainly one of the most under-rated golfers this country has produced.
Now ACT-based golfer Brendan Jones is closing in on the senior circuit as he nears his 50th birthday.
And after almost 25 years playing professional golf and touring the world, Jones is as keen as he’s ever been to play – and win again.
A former Australian Amateur champion, Jones intends playing more golf in Asia and is keen to pick and choose what events suit him the best.
A winner an incredible 15 times on the lucrative Japanese Tour, Jones hadn’t won since 2019 before claiming a surprise win in the New Zealand Open earlier this year, scoring a three-shot victory over Ben Campbell, John Lyras, Korean Jaewoong Eom and Japanese professional Tomoyo Ikemura at Millbrook on the South Island.
The event was co-sanctioned by the Australasian Tour and Jones admitted the win came “out of the blue”.
“I took some time off during the COVID-19 pandemic and I sat around for about two years,” he said.
“After that I found it very hard to pick it [my golf game] back up.
“The way I used to play and the way I have been showing I could play were two different things.
“And at the start of the year I came in fresh and surprised myself.
“I finished fifth in Sydney and had a tie for eighth the week after my New Zealand Open win.
“I felt like my game had turned around.
“But I just haven’t had the consistency I always had.”
Jones explained that he now intended to play a lot more golf on the Asian Tour.
“It is on a great trajectory and the International Series events have been fantastic,” he said.
“I have loved the ones I’ve played in and being in the category (tournament winner), I look forward to playing them, going forward.”
Jones said that as he approached 50 he wanted to pick and choose more and was hoping that in 2024 he would be able to do that.
“I’m looking forward to playing places I haven’t been and hopefully my game will come around a bit too,” he said.
“The Asian Tour has always been a great opportunity in my opinion, and now with the alignment with LIV, it has a lot more to offer.”
Jones said if he were 20 years younger, the travel side of professional golf would appeal much more to him.
“But knocking on the door of 50, it is a little more difficult than it used to be,” he said.
“I have still enjoyed it; it has added a little bit of a spark to my career.
“I know I’m nearer the end than the start of my career. But to have the opportunity to play these bigger events in England, Scotland and Asia, has given me a bit of excitement after 20-plus years on the Japan Golf Tour.
“Now I hope the golf turns around for me and I can get excited about the golf on the course again.”
