They call him the “most interesting man in golf”, and he is about to make this year’s Ryder Cup the most interesting one since it was first played in 1927.
Miguel Angel Jimenez, one of the most genuine characters you can come across in professional sport, is hell-bent on proving that age is just a number.
By winning last week’s Spanish Open, he extended his own record as the oldest European Tour winner at the age of 50 years and 133 days old.
He had earlier won the Hong Kong Open last year in December but ‘The Mechanic’ can ramp up the Miguel-mania to a new level if he makes it to the European Ryder Cup team when the biennial competition is played in September.
Right now, Jimenez is on the verge of making the team from both the European Points List (where he is sixth behind Ian Poulter with the top four securing a place in the team) and also the next man in from the World Points List.
If not, captain Paul McGinley will have to give his credentials a good look while picking up his three wildcards, especially after the win in Spain and the fourth-place finish at the Masters. And lest we forget, he also won on his Champions Tour debut this year.
It’s really surprising how well Jimenez is playing, considering he broke his leg while skiing in December 2012, and couldn't play for nearly five months.
Because of his age, most experts believed his days on the tour were numbered, and that he’d shift his focus to the Senior tours. Well, no such luck for the youngsters as Jimenez continues to rock.
The newly-married Jimenez was in his element after winning the Spanish Open, a title that has denied him for so many years. When asked the secret to his longevity, he said: “There is no secret. Good food, good drink, good cigars and some exercise!”
Everybody knows of his exercise routine, which has acquired legendary status by now on YouTube and driving ranges across the world wherever he is playing.
But what is not that well known is how much he does for Spanish golf, and how good he has been to tournament organisers across the globe.
For several years before it was finally discontinued in 2013, Jimenez put his own money in the Andalucian Open. A European Tour official told me the Spaniard’s own contribution to the tournament would be in the range of €1.5m (Dh7.5m) and €2m (Dh10m) over three years.
Despite his popularity, he never demands any appearance fee. Instead, he chooses whichever events he wants to play in cities that he likes. So, you will never see him missing the Dubai Desert Classic or the Hong Kong Open.
When asked in a recent Golf Digest interview how he seems to be happy with life all the time, Jimenez replied: “If you ask why I’m a comfortable-looking man, maybe it’s because I come from a nice family. Poor, but always happy. Money helps you live better, but happiness is from the soul. Playing golf has been my job and my joy. Is there a luckier way to make a living?”
Golf, indeed, is blessed to have someone like Jimenez.
Champions strike back
At the PGA Tour’s HP Byron Nelson Championship last week, there were two players who did not win, but their performances surely gladdened the hearts of the fans.
Padraig Harrington and Canadian Mike Weir were in the mix on the final day of the tournament, which was won by yet another first-timer, Brendon Todd.
Harrington, without a title since his second Open Championship win way back in 2008, put together three superb rounds before fizzling out on Sunday with a four-over par 74. But it was the first time in years that he put together three consistent rounds, and the hope is that he will soon make it four good successive rounds.
Weir, a former Masters champion, did better and finished second. Winless since 2007, that was his first top-10 finish in four years.
BMW boost for Tour
Finally, some good news for the European Tour. BMW, one of their biggest sponsors, announced a fouryear extension to their partnership until the end of the 2018 season.
The agreement not only covers BMW’s sponsorship of three tournaments – the flagship BMW PGA Championship, the BMW International Open and the BMW Masters in Shanghai – but also its position as the Tour’s Official Car and as a partner of the Ryder Cup.
Stats of the Week
62 – The course record at Wentworth, which is held by Robert Karlsson (during round three in 2010). The Swede will also be playing his 500th European Tour this week.
Quote of the Week
“Rehab is not a fun thing to do… but if you’re going through rehab, it’s nice to have a partner to do this with. Someone who relates to your situation and that you can talk to, rehab and train together.” – Lindsey Vonn, on being injured at the same time as boyfriend Tiger Woods.
