Jones takes lead in Australian Open

Adam Scott of Australia, center, is watched by the crowd as he hits out of the rough on the 6th hole during the Australia Open Golf Tournament in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015.

“Just competing in the Olympics, just walking the opening ceremony, staying in the village and doing whatever it is, meeting these incredible athletes from around the world, hopefully that’s something I’ll be able to experience next August”, said Spieth, who moved on from his Australian victory a year ago to win consecutive majors at the Masters and U.S. Open.

The World No1 laboured to a level-par 71 in Sydney and was five shots off the pace set by 26-year-old Australian Lincoln Tighe.

“I do know the course… comfortable with the lines of the tees and that”, Jones said.

“This is a tough golf course and if you are not spot on you can manage to put yourself in some tricky spots”. I’ve been building it up in my own mind, just knowing Jordan [Spieth] is coming back to defend. “That’s what I’m going with”.

“Of course I’ve thought about it…it would be fantastic”, the 35-year-old told ausopengolf.com.

Adam Scott eagled the last hole of his third round to give himself a glimmer of hope of winning the Stonehaven Cup for the second time.

“So boy, it was a round that could have been and that made it so frustrating as I found myself finally getting into a nice rhythm as I was hitting fairways and giving myself opportunities but I just couldn’t quite gauge the wind”.

Scott said there had been some relief when the 197-yard iron shot landed on the green and stayed there, rather than spin off into the water lurking on the right side of the hole.

“Yesterday it was pretty hard; conditions were definitely a lot tougher yesterday”, he said.

Australian Tighe holds a one-shot lead over compatriot Matthew Jones as a result of his impressive 66.

After a bogey-free outward 32, Spieth made birdies on the back-nine par 5s, Nos.

Sinnott, a Golf Australia rookie pro, was delighted with his performance: “I suppose I’m young (23) but Spieth’s younger”.

“I’m playing to a strategy I have”, he said.

“But, two days to go, I can’t really be thinking about that now”.

Peter Senior, who won the Australian Masters at the age of 56 last weekend, came down to earth with a bump after carding a nine-over 80.