With a new-found family-first perspective on life, Matt Jones craves the prestige of winning the 100th Australian Open, not the overdue accolades that would inevitably follow a milestone triumph.
Jones, a lifelong member of The Australian Golf Club in Sydney, put local knowledge to good use on Friday to snare the halfway lead with a three-under-par 68.
The unheralded US PGA star is seven under for the championship, with world No.1 and defending champion Jordan Spieth looming as his biggest threat four shots off the pace.
For years, Jones has flown under the radar, living in the shadows of celebrated countrymen Jason Day and Adam Scott - but happily so as he goes quietly about his business, steadily rising up golf's world ranks.
The 35-year-old cracked the top 50 and earned $3 million prize money in 2015, but says he can't put a price on what it means to spend time with his two young daughters Savannah, almost two, and three-year-old Saber.
"Knowing that if I don't play well enough, it's not the end of the world," Jones said.
"I'm sure I used to let it get to me a lot more when I was younger but nowadays you go home, play with your kids and you forget about it.
"That's probably what's helped me a lot too, being married and having a couple of kids to forget about golf, away from the course."
The humble Jones has no qualms with major winners and former world No.1s Day and Scott hogging the spotlight in Australia as he battles for recognition.
"Jason had one of the best years of any Australian ever on Tour, so I'm just happy to be playing on the PGA Tour and keep doing what I'm doing," he said.
"If my golf gets me more accolades back here, that would be great.
"But it's only going to come from victories and doing what they do week in and week out."
Big-hitting Todd Sinnott is second at the halfway point after backing up his first-round 68 with a 70 to be three adrift of Jones at four under.
Spieth (68) is equal third with 2010 champion Geoff Ogilvy (71), Aron Price (68), surprise first-round leader Lincoln Tighe (73) and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, who carded the day's best round of 66.
Spieth picked up three shots on the front nine with birdies on the first, fourth and seventh holes after carding an even-par 71 on Thursday.
But with two birdies and two bogeys on the way home, the Texan was unable to make any further headway on Jones, bidding to win for the first time on home soil.
"I've been in this clubhouse since I was 15," Jones said.
"So I've seen all those photos and it's pretty cool to look at.
"To have my name on the trophy alongside all those great golfers would be amazing.
"So, yeah, it's fun to think about but now I've got to go and execute and do it."
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