Aussie Jones play with American Watson

Matt Jones' best USPGA Australian Matt Jones chipped in from 57 feet to complete a six-under-par 66 opening round and match American Bubba Watson for the lead at the $6.4 million US PGA Zurich Classic.
Jones, who began on the back nine, fired eight birdies against a pair of bogeys with half his birdie binge coming in a run of four in a row that began at the par-four 16th.

The Aussie dropped a 30-footer for birdie at the 17th, sank a 10-foot birdie putt at 18 and followed with a 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole.
But Jones saved the best for last with his spectacular chip-in.
"I hit 196 yards to the pin," Jones said. "It's not a comfortable tee shot with the wind into you off the left and with water left. I missed it right and had a little chip that I was actually just hoping to get up and down.
"I pitched it perfectly. It grabbed a little and just trickled in nicely."

Jones, whose best US PGA finishes were a pair of shared fourth places in his 2008 rookie season, missed the cut in his prior two events but was aided by swing coach Gary Barter flying over this week from Australia to guide him.
"We've done a lot of work. My hands are pretty sore, actually, after all the work we've done," Jones said. "So it's coming slowly. Today we saw some positives out of what we've been doing."
Jones, in fact, nearly had five birdies in a row.
"I birdied four in a row. That gets the round going," he said. "Had a lip-out on two for birdie, which would have been nice. I had a lot of putts going in from distance today. It was nice. It was a nice change. It has been a while."

Watson, who won at Torrey Pines in January, had six birdies, two bogeys and a two-putt eagle on the par-5 11th hole. It was a solid start for an event he played only because his mother always attends and asked him to come.
"When my mom says she wants to come, I'm here and somehow I shot six-under," Watson said. "The way the course is, it just doesn't fit my eye. It's a great layout. For me, it's just not one that I want to play every day.
"Today, it just worked out. I hit my driver really well. I've been hitting it good all year, but I made some putts and hit some good iron shots and somehow came out six-under."
One stroke off the pace were Aussie Nick O'Hern, Sweden's Carl Pettersson and Americans Joe Durant, Tommy Gainey, John Rollins and David Duval.

England's Luke Donald, who has a chance for the third week in a row to become the World No. 1, is in a group of six on 68.
Donald lost a playoff last week at the Heritage to American Brandt Snedeker that would have put him atop the rankings had he won. Instead, it was England's Lee Westwood who jumped past Germany's Martin Kaymer into the top spot.
Donald, ranked third, must win or finish second this week to have a chance at the top ranking on Monday, but a major factor will be how Westwood fares this week at his event in Seoul.

Westwood, who won last week in Indonesia, would need a victory to hold onto the top spot if Donald wins this week.
If Donald is second in New Orleans, Westwood would need a top-three finish to remain No. 1.