Matt Jones knows he has to do something special to beat the world's best golfer, even though he and Jordan Spieth will battle on Jones' home turf of The Australian Golf Club in the final round of the Australian Open on Sunday.
But the 35-year-old's tactic for beating 22-year-old golfing phenomenon Spieth are a little, erm, unusual.
"I’ll have to have them yell during Jordan’s backswing or something,” Jones said.
Of course, the world No.81 was joking. And the pair are great mates on the US PGA Tour. But for the fact that Jones has been a member of the prestigious Rosebery layout from the age of 15 could possibly encourage some friends in the gallery to carry out such antics, especially if there are beverages involved.
Jones secured a three-shot lead over the world No.1 and defending champion after the third round of the Australian Open in Sydney, courtesy of a superb 3-under par 68, which was helped by birdies on the final two holes.
Australian Open favourite Spieth shot a 67 –- the low round of the day –- but Jones finished at 10-under par, and in doing so secured a three shot buffer between himself and the 2015 Masters and US Open champion.
Though tournament organisers would no doubt have wanted world No.12 Adam Scott and Spieth in the final pairing on Sunday, the 2013 Masters champion’s disappointing opening rounds dropped him to a share of seventh place and nine shots back from Jones at 1-under, despite a solid Saturday round of 68.
Jones began Saturday in the lead but battled on the front nine with three birdies and three bogeys. On the closing half, the Sutherland shire product birdied the par-5 14th, before bagging birdies on the par-4 17th and par-5 closing hole.
Spieth looked down and out after three bogeys in his first four holes of the third round, but clawed his way back with birdies at the fifth, six and ninth holes –- dampened by a bogey at the eighth.
But Spieth demonstrated why he is the world No.1 on the back nine -- he played it in 5-under par after three birdies and a thrilling hole-out eagle at the par-4 17th.
“It’s always good to play with him and it’ll be good to see where he is and what he’s doing," Jones said after his round.
Two shots back from FedEx Cup winner Spieth is Rhein Gibson, while in a share of fourth place at 4-under was Aron Price and first-round leader Lincoln Tighe.
Rounding out the top 10 is Geoff Ogilvy (3-under) and then Darren Clarke, Brett Rumford, Adam Scott and Todd Sinnott at 1-under.
The final round coverage of the 2015 Australian Open will be show LIVE from 12pm on the Seven Network.