Matt Jones of Australia holed a five-foot birdie putt on the final hole to post a second consecutive 6-under-par 65 and tie Bubba Watson for the 36-hole lead in chilly conditions in the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.
The 33-year-old Jones, who played college golf nearby at Arizona State, has never won on the PGA Tour, with his best finish a tie for second last year in the Greenbrier Classic.
“We definitely got the good side of the draw going early,” Jones said. “It’s going to be cold and the ball isn’t going as far.
“The golf course is so different tournament week than it is when you play out here regularly. It’s a lot harder, a lot faster. The greens are a lot quicker. The pins are a lot more tucked out here. So, it’s like a new golf course when you come here for a tournament.”
Watson was had a share of the first-round lead at 64 and could have had the lead by himself, but needed three shots to reach the green on his last hole of the day, the par-4 ninth, and missed an eight-foot putt for par.
Bubba made bogeys on two of his last three holes, also stumbling at No. 7.
Harris English, who has won twice on the PGA Tour since last year, shot 67 and was two shots back in a tie for third with Greg Chalmers of Australia, who also had a 67.
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan carded another 67 and was tied for fifth with Pat Perez and Kevin Stadler, who both had 68s.
Brandt Snedeker was tied for seventh after a 64, Hunter Mahan tied for 16th after a 71 and defending champion Phil Mickelson recorded a 67 to finish in a tie for 26th.
