Driving, check. Short game, check. But it's on the green that Brendan Jones needs his normally reliable broomstick putter to be on target if he's going to be a contender at The Open championship, starting on Thursday night at Muirfield.
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The Canberra golfer is a $201 long shot to emerge triumphant after four days on the Scottish links course considered the toughest in the British Open rotation.
Whoever lifts the trophy on Monday morning Canberra time will have conquered the elements as much as the mile-high rough and randomly placed bunkers on a course more than 6500 metres long. Jones has played two practice rounds since arriving in Scotland last Sunday, describing the course as, ''very windy, dry and bouncy''.
He will need the accuracy off the tee that has served him well in more than a decade on the Japanese tour but the world No.92 admits his putting needs to improve if he is going to make the cut for the second year in a row.
''The British Open is by far and away the best event in the world,'' Jones said.
''I've loved the three I've played previously and I'm looking forward to this one because I'm in a bit of form. Even though I've missed two of my last three cuts, two weeks ago in Japan I played really well but my putting was poor.
''If I can work on my putting I should do all right.''
Jones has been drawn alongside American John Huh and Kim Hyung-sung (South Korea) for the first two rounds, teeing off at 10.39am local time (7.39pm Canberra time).
The favourable morning slot will be followed by a late-afternoon start on Friday, when they are the fourth-last group on the course.
Jones booked his spot in the field with victory in the Mizuno Open, taking his career prizemoney on the Japanese tour to more than $9 million.
The 38-year-old returned to Canberra last week for a brief stopover with his family, spending time at his home course Royal Canberra to work on his game before his 11th attempt at a major.
He has survived the cut three times, finishing tied for 72nd at last year's British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
This year it returns to Muirfield for the first time since 2002, when South African Ernie Els survived blustery winds to take out the title.
Former professional Brett Ogle predicted conditions would again be a defining factor.
''Muirfield is one of the flattest courses and the emphasis is on driving,'' Ogle said. ''As all British Opens, it depends on the weather.
''That golf course can tear your heart out.''
