''That was my first Open in 2004 and I didn't enjoy it at all - the US Golf Association got a bit carried away with the course set-up and it wasn't fun for anybody.

''I missed the cut, and I didn't mind doing that, but I just didn't enjoy the experience at all.''

''Eight years [later] it still annoys me, how they set the course up, but I'm a much better player now than I was back then.

''I was probably a little aggressive back then and in a tournament like the US Open, there's not a lot of times that you can be aggressive, so I've learnt a lot over the last eight years and I think I'll be a lot smarter when I play this year.''

Jones, who is currently third on the money list on the Japanese tour, flies out to the US tomorrow after a week at home in Canberra, where he prefers to play dad to his two sons over golf.

He's a member of the Royal Canberra Golf Club, where 15 minutes in the bunker practising shots he hopes he won't need to play was the only practice he put in during his brief visit.

Club president Rick Coate will be leading Jones's cheer squad over in the US.

''He's an interesting character - he doesn't practice - he just comes up here and plays with his mates, and he's a really down-to-earth guy, classic in that sort of Aussie modesty,'' Coate said.

Jones is looking forward to having some supporters - who will include John Mackay, chairman of Actew and fellow RCGC member, as well as American friends from Jones's time living in the US.

''It will be good to have a few local supporters over there following me. It's always good to see friendly faces in the crowd. The more support there, the better it is, because you know in America at US Open time, if you're not American they don't really want to know you!''

It will be the first time playing at the Olympic Club for Jones, who has done some research but is waiting to play some practice rounds to get a feel for the course.