Brendan Jones happy to wait another year before Token Homemate Cup defence

Jones was meant to defend his Token Homemate Cup title in Nagoya this week but the tournament was cancelled due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus.

There are no plans to reschedule the event this season, meaning Jones will have to wait another 12 months before catching a glimpse of the familiar silverware.

But that doesn't bother him. Nor does the potential cancellation of the entire tour in this global health crisis.

His chief concern is returning to Nagoya another year older.

"I'm not disappointed because I'll get to defend it next year," Jones said.

"I'm a realist in all of this, I'm quite lucky because I still have a job when things start up again. I've had some decent years so I can ride this one out.

"The only thing that gets me is my age, going back next year as a 46-year-old and it's a young man's game these days. So, it's going to be harder in that way."

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Jones is on the players' advisory board for the Japan Golf Tour and doubts they'll be able continue this year.

The Japan Golf Tour has been cancelling events tournament by tournament, rather than setting a return date.

Four events have been called off so far, while the PGA Tour announced in March it had cancelled the Japan Championship (June 12-14) due to travel restrictions.

"Things are getting worse in Japan. Now COVID-19 cases are increasing again, I personally don't see [the tour] happening," Jones said.

"Even if we wanted to get there as Australians, it's very hard to travel and who knows what it's going to be like later in the year?

"We play right into the start of December, so if things improve they said we could start in August or September. I'd still get nearly half a year, but in saying that there's a lot of things that need to happen for us to play again."

For now, Jones is just happy to spend more time with his family in Canberra and watch his two kids grow up.

He's swapped golf for riding bikes and helps them out with their homeschooling, although the later is tedious at times.

"I've had to do part of that, just like every parent out there right now. I could really do without that though," he chuckles.

Some golf courses in Canberra remain open for play, including Royal Canberra, Yowani, Gold Creek and Belconnen, provided all golfers adhere to the government's strict social-distancing regulations.

Jones is treating the coronavirus shutdown as an extended break from golf and has barely hit a ball since returning from the New Zealand Open last month.

"I have not thought about playing golf. I'm a member of Royal Canberra, I've had a look on the time-sheet and it's hard to get a time anyway," Jones said.

"I'm not going to be playing competitively anytime soon, so I'm quite happy to just ride it out. I'm realistic in all of this and I've accepted this is what's going on right now.

"If they do make a decision and we can get to Japan later in the year, then I'll get out there more often.

"I usually have a bit of time off at the end of each year, so having a bit more now hopefully won't hurt me.

"I'm just happy to be staying at home with the kids, we've been going for bike rides and that type of thing. I'm able to do some things, but golf is not something I'm rushing out to do."