New Game, New Thinking: Matt Jones profile

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When you start your rookie season on the PGA TOUR by making nine straight cuts, including a tie for fourth in just your sixth start, the adjustment period traditionally referred to in almost every interview with a first-year guy sails out the window. Of course, backing up that early success never comes easy. Fairways are tighter. Checks are larger. TV cameras are like fireflies. And when you're hitting your driver like Charles Barkley, well ...

PGATOUR.COM: So you're not exactly placing your drives where you want.

MATT JONES: It's the worst I've ever hit driver in my life. It's horrendous and it's been horrendous for the entire season. On the Nationwide Tour, you can spray the driver and still end up OK. Out here, that's not the case. You'd better hit it long and straight or you just won't score.

PGATOUR.COM: That being said, you still have won more than $700,000 this season.

JONES: I got off to a great start. Finishing fourth (at The Honda Classic) ... you just can't start much better. But I've struggled with the driver and I haven't putted consistently enough to contend. I had another good finish at the Buick (another 4th place), but I really have left a lot on the table this year.

PGATOUR.COM: Quick confession: I actually carried your scoring standard at Colonial in Fort Worth on the Friday that you missed the cut. Despite playing poorly, you wouldn't have known it by the way you carried yourself.

JONES: I'm super laid-back so I never show emotion regardless of how well or how poorly I play. I honestly don't remember that day too well, but that's probably predictable since I missed the cut. I'm sure I was just looking forward to getting to the next tournament.

PGATOUR.COM: For what it's worth, I did a great job with the scoring standard.

JONES: Those things can be tricky. Nice work.

PGATOUR.COM: When you're not confidently striding down TOUR fairways, what makes Matt Jones tick?

JONES: I like to play golf with my buddies back home in Scottsdale. I like kicking around and just watching TV. And, of course, I have two fantasy football teams to manage.

PGATOUR.COM: OK, before we get to your fantasy football geekdom, let me get something straight. You play golf with buddies when you're not playing golf?

JONES: I guess I'm hooked on golf. It's just messing around with my guys, but I do play a lot of golf.

PGATOUR.COM: Let's jump head-first into your fantasy football teams. As a recovering fantasy football nerd, I've gone from four leagues to only one. My wife and boss are very relieved.

JONES: I'm in two leagues, one with my boys from the Nationwide Tour and another with some guys on the PGA TOUR. My Nationwide Tour team is pretty good, but my other club is terrible.

PGATOUR.COM: Who are your workhorses?

JONES: I've got L.T. (LaDainian Tomlinson) on my Nationwide Tour team. I had the first pick of the draft, so that was a no-brainer. He's been the best player in fantasy football for the last several years. He's a bit banged up right now, which hurts, but he'll be fine. I'm 1-1 in both leagues.

PGATOUR.COM: Did I forget to tell you how much I hate talking about other people's fantasy football rosters? Oh yeah, my best player is Donovan McNabb. He's really back to his Pro Bowl level.

JONES: I thought you didn't like talking about fantasy football rosters.

PGATOUR.COM: I like talking to others about my roster. Thought I mentioned that. So now that you're in the homestretch to your first season, what are your short-term goals for the rest of the way?

JONES: Cracking the top 70 money list. I've been working on my tee ball a ton with my coach and I'm confident that it'll get under control in the near future.