Australian golfer Matt Jones has seized a share of the second-round lead of the Phoenix Open along with former Masters champion Bubba Watson, with his second straight six-under 65 on Friday.
The leading duo were two strokes in front of Australian Greg Chalmers and Harris English, who both posted second-round 67s. According to Sport24, seeking his first victory since his 2012 Masters triumph, Watson, who was tied for the lead after a first-round 64, carded a 66 with seven birdies and two bogeys on the par-71 TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course to maintain a share of the lead on 12-under-par 130.
The report mentioned that local favourite Jones birdied three of the first four holes and after his only bogey of the day at the ninth added another three birdies at 13, 14 and 15 before capping his round with his seventh birdie of the day at the par-four 18th.
Meanwhile, Japan's Hideki Matsuyama also shot 67 to join the group sharing fifth place on nine-under 133 and was tied with Americans Pat Perez (68) and Kevin Stadler (68).
South Korea's Ye Yang, who shared the first-round lead with Watson, stumbled to a 73 and fell into a tie for 15th on five-under, while defending champion Phil Mickelson carded a 67 that left him tied for 27th eight shots off the lead, the report added.
