Miguel Angel Jiménez, The European Tour 2015 (Golf Master Tips, Pro Golf Shop) - A year on from his historic home soil heroics, Miguel Angel Jiménez will be aiming to rewrite his own records again this week when he defends his title in the Open de España, the first European Tour event of 2015 on European soil.
Jiménez became the first player over the age of 50 to triumph on The European Tour when he won his national Open at the 27th attempt 12 months ago, defeating Richard Green and Thomas Pieters in a play-off at PGA Catalunya Resort.
It is 62 years since a player last won back-to-back Open de España titles, but Jiménez, who finished runner-up to Jarmo Sandelin at Real Golf Club El Prat in 1999, will have the home galleries behind him, as will a strong cast of his compatriots, led by Sergio Garcia.
World Number Seven Garcia won the title in 2002, while another Spaniard, Alvaro Quiros, triumphed in 2010, and both players share Jiménez’s ambition of becoming the first Spaniard to win multiple Open de España crowns since the legendary Seve Ballesteros recorded his third victory 20 years ago.
The last time the tournament was played at Real Golf Club El Prat in 2011 it was a South African, Thomas Aiken, who claimed the title, and he returns to the venue buoyed by a fourth place finish in last week’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius.
Aiken’s victory four years ago was his maiden win on The European Tour and he dedicated it to the memory of legendary Spaniard Ballesteros, who lost his long battle with cancer on the weekend of the tournament.
Having since added two more European Tour titles to his CV – the 2012 Avantha Masters and 2013 Africa Open – the 31 year old is relishing the chance to return to the venue for his breakthrough win.
“It was my first European Tour win and it was an extremely emotional week with the passing of Seve Ballesteros and it being in Spain,” said Aiken. “He was an amazing ambassador for the game, not just in Spain but in the whole of Europe and the whole world. It brought a tear to everyone’s eye that week, so there are a lot of good and a lot of bad memories for me going back to El Prat.
“It’s always nice to go back to a course you won on though, and you can reflect on those memories. I’m looking forward to it, having had a good performance last week, and with some big weeks coming up.”
The Open de España marks the first of five consecutive events on European soil, with next week’s BMW PGA Championship in England followed by visits to Northern Ireland, Sweden and Austria. (latest golf news source: Europeantour.com)
Jiménez became the first player over the age of 50 to triumph on The European Tour when he won his national Open at the 27th attempt 12 months ago, defeating Richard Green and Thomas Pieters in a play-off at PGA Catalunya Resort.
Miguel Angel Jiménez Golf Player Over 50 on The European Tour
The 21-time European Tour winner, who celebrated his 51st birthday in January, will now be hoping to extend his record as the oldest winner in European Tour history by retaining that title at Real Golf Club El Prat, near Barcelona.It is 62 years since a player last won back-to-back Open de España titles, but Jiménez, who finished runner-up to Jarmo Sandelin at Real Golf Club El Prat in 1999, will have the home galleries behind him, as will a strong cast of his compatriots, led by Sergio Garcia.
World Number Seven Garcia won the title in 2002, while another Spaniard, Alvaro Quiros, triumphed in 2010, and both players share Jiménez’s ambition of becoming the first Spaniard to win multiple Open de España crowns since the legendary Seve Ballesteros recorded his third victory 20 years ago.
The last time the tournament was played at Real Golf Club El Prat in 2011 it was a South African, Thomas Aiken, who claimed the title, and he returns to the venue buoyed by a fourth place finish in last week’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius.
Aiken’s victory four years ago was his maiden win on The European Tour and he dedicated it to the memory of legendary Spaniard Ballesteros, who lost his long battle with cancer on the weekend of the tournament.
Having since added two more European Tour titles to his CV – the 2012 Avantha Masters and 2013 Africa Open – the 31 year old is relishing the chance to return to the venue for his breakthrough win.
“It’s always nice to go back to a course you won on though, and you can reflect on those memories. I’m looking forward to it, having had a good performance last week, and with some big weeks coming up.”
The Open de España marks the first of five consecutive events on European soil, with next week’s BMW PGA Championship in England followed by visits to Northern Ireland, Sweden and Austria. (latest golf news source: Europeantour.com)
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