Matthew Jones leads the Australian Open by three strokes after the second

The American is four strokes off leader Matthew Jones after his second round of 68 at the Australian Golf Club.

He then moved to two under par with a birdie at his fifth hole but dropped a shot at the next before getting back to two under par with a birdie at his ninth.

Adam Scott can not remember the last time he failed to secure a birdie in a round of golf but despite shooting a two-over-par 73 on Friday he still has not given up hope of a second Australian Open title this week. Both Spieth and Scott opened with 71s.

Jones, like Spieth, based in Texas, said playing with the defending champion on a regular basis would help him overcome nerves tomorrow.

Jones provided some late theatrics of his own, putting from well off the green on the 17th to hole it for birdie. “The toughest part is when you have the crosswinds and you’ve got to pick what shot to play, because you can use the same club and it can go 30 yards’ difference in the air”.

The rushing may have showed, eventually.

Despite the winds being lighter, Spieth suggested the conditions still presented a challenge due to their changing direction.

“If it starts going left, it’s in the left bunker and if it’s right, it’s obviously water”.

“I’d love nothing more than that”, continued the 35-year-old.

It was a far cry from his final round at The Australian Golf Club last year, when he defied the Sydney wind to shoot a brilliant 63 and claim the Stonehaven Cup, launching a year in which he won two majors.

U.S. Amateur champion Bryson DeChambeau shot 72 and was at even par in a group that included Darren Clarke (67).

The Belgian Bomber shot the best score of the day – a five-under 66 – and is now four shots off the pace as he looks for a first triumph since the 2012 Volvo World Match Play Championship.

“I walked to the 10th tee kind of with my head held high after making a double, and that’s a good feeling”, he said.

“It’ll be fun to be out there on the weekend with a lot of friends and family and members from this course out there”, he said.

He now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife, Melissa, and two daughters.

The US PGA Tour stars will tee off in the final group in what shapes as a thrilling climax to the 100th Australian Open.

Jones began Saturday in the lead but battled on the front nine with three birdies and three bogeys.