Miguel Ángel Jiménez has been proclaimed champion of the UBS Hong Kong Open and has written a page in the history of golf, breaking three records: he becomes the oldest winner on the European Tour at 48 years and 318 days (Churriana, Málaga, January 5, 1964); he achieves 12 titles at the age of 40; and he adds his sixth victory in Asia. This is the third time that the player from Malaga, who has 22 victories to his name, has won this tournament: 2005, 2008 and 2012.
Jimenez has won in Hong Kong with 15 under par (65-67-68-65=265) and one stroke ahead of Fredrik Andersson Hed conquering the third Spanish title in 2012: Rafa Cabrera-Bello (Omega Dubai Desert Classic) and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño (Italian Open). The total of Spanish victories on the European Tour amounts to 166.
In addition to climbing several places in the Race to Dubai -from 41st to 27th- and the World Ranking, this tournament has opened the doors to the Volvo Golf Champions and the WGC-HSBC Champions 2013, where he has already secured his place.
Miguel Ángel Jiménez: “It was time to win again, it must be that olive oil and Rioja help me to stay on top! I had been playing well for some time, picking up fairways and greens although the results did not reflect it. I have been patient and I knew that sooner or later the victory had to come. I played very solid: 17 birdies and only two bogeys in 72 holes say a lot about my game, I missed a lot of birdie chances that didn’t go in.
During these two years without winning (Omega European Masters September 2010) there have been highs and lows of motivation; you see that time goes by, you get good positions but the triumph does not come and you hear everything: many people ask you if you are going to play the Senior Tour and it seems that they already want you to retire. I always said: ‘time will tell’. This victory means a lot and is special; better late than never, and I think the end of my career is not yet here.
I love the city of Hong Kong, this tournament and this course, there’s something about it that really appeals to me and I haven’t missed it since I first came here in 2004. The course is not too long but it is demanding, and that suits me. Here it’s not a question of hitting it hard but of thinking about where you leave it.
I’m 48 years old and I’m already close to 49, next year I’ll be 25 years on Tour, what a great thing! But I am very lucky to still enjoy golf, I like what I do and I feel happy, and that is the most important thing. Golf has given me everything and I give it whatever it needs: I work, I train and go to the gym, I try to keep in shape because if not… the youngsters come and wet my ear. I know I’m hitting the ball well, I still control it and I feel competitive, the day I don’t feel it… that’s the day I’ll retire, but in the meantime, I hope to keep on fighting.
On the 18th hole, with all the tension of the moment and knowing that I only had a one-stroke lead, I hit a good shot, that tee is very narrow, with trees and you have to hit it very straight. The second was also good, I played three quarters of an eight iron and it was a perfect shot.
Tonight I will celebrate at the airport in Hong Kong with the Spaniards flying to Dubai, I’m running to the hotel to pack my suitcase”.
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