Recent win inspires revival

By Alexander Dabb

The COVID-19 lockdown forced a change in work circumstances for a lot of people, Brendan Jones included.

A 15-time winner on the Japan Tour, Jones was unable to play in any events on the circuit where he had enjoyed so much success, and at age 48, two years out of the sport looked like the beginning of the end for the man born in West Wyalong.

Struggling to make cuts at tournaments he was good enough to be winning, Jones sought out former coach Alex Mercer, and credits a chat with him as the catalyst for somewhat of a mini career revival.

“You know, it was a tough year for me last year. But as I said last night, talking about Alex Mercer, I just owe the turnaround in my fortunes probably to him just because he’s got my head clear,” Jones said.

“I feel a lot happier out on the golf course and instead of letting things get to me and stress about things, I'm just, you know, trying to let things go and it’s amazing how your game can change when you're not angry out on the golf course and sort of agitated.

“I guess that helped me finish off the last year in Japan where I played quite well and then I’ve picked up nicely this year at TPS Sydney and to win New Zealand.”

The New Zealand win Jones references is the New Zealand Open, a win which catapulted him into second place on the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, where he remains within striking distance of leader David Micheluzzi with two events to play.

“I played great going into New Zealand, struggled a little bit the first couple of days but scraped through and then almost played a flawless sort of weekend,” Jones said.

“So yeah, it’s nice to be back in the mix again. It's nice to feel that my game is still good enough on any given week, and that’s why I'm here, you know, I’m a chance now to win the Order of Merit.

“I pretty much need to win again here to give myself a shot going into the last event in Melbourne, but you know if things don’t go well for me this week, then it’s just back to Japan and with a better attitude than what I’ve had.”

It’s win or bust for Jones in the Order of Merit — while the top three finishers will receive a playing card for the DP World Tour in Europe next season, only the first placed finisher will earn qualification into The Open Championship, which is Jones’ main priority.

Despite 19 professional wins in his career, Jones admits he doesn’t necessarily possess a love for the game, rather viewing golf purely as a job.

“I’ve just got to think about what else would I be doing, and I still can't work out what I'd be doing and so golf it is, it’s still my job and that’s what it feels like, it feels like a job most weeks,” Jones said.

“Having said that, Sydney and New Zealand were quite enjoyable for me, when I get in the mix and when I’m competing to win tournaments that gets the juices flowing and that gets the enjoyment back.

“But last year I was beating my head against the wall grinding to make cuts and I was missing, you know, I missed eight out of nine cuts at mid-season and it was just not fun.

“When you’ve been playing year-in-yearout competing for titles at least a handful of times a year, and when you're not even playing weekends, it just gets pretty devastating and upsetting.”

Again, Jones credits Mercer with helping him shift his mindset to be able to perform at the level required of a professional, and to be able to enjoy the game of golf once again.

“It all just turned around with Alex and just him telling me that I had nothing to prove, and I was too good a player to be missing cuts like I was, and just to let things go and just try and enjoy it more, and that’s pretty much what I've done.” could do a strap for the (logo) | RICH RIVER GOLF CLUB | MARCH 16THwanting you to do the player pro le pages. link below with photos of the golf course if we want are also attached- happy too use that blue and white