Today, when he steps on the tee of hole one at Wentworth, where the BMW PGA Championship is being held, Miguel Angel Jimenez, with one of the most characteristic swings in the world of golf and his identifying ponytail, will have competed in 600 tournaments on the European Tour: a record among the professionals of the old Continent.
The Malaga-born player, considered one of the most charismatic golfers on both sides of the pond – the American specialized press describes him as “the most interesting player” – has joined a select group made up of Sam Torrance (706 tournaments), Barry Lane (682), Roger Chapman (619), Eamonn Darcy (610) and Malcolm McKenzie (605).
Jimenez becomes the first continental player to reach the difficult-to-reach 600 mark, and last Tuesday, during the annual dinner honoring the 2012 winners, “Pisha” was recognized for his achievement with the presentation of an antique decanter, the custodian of a 600-year-old whisky, by George O’Grady, CEO of the European Tour, and Thomas Björn, Chairman of the Players’ Committee.
“I am enormously grateful,” said the player, “for all that golf has given me, the sport that has become my passion and my life. I have been competing and touring the world for 25 extraordinary years, and when I stop to think about it, I can’t believe it. There have been so many incredible and unforgettable experiences and I have enjoyed every minute of it”.
“It all started in the 79 Spanish Open, played in Torrequebrada (Benalmádena, Málaga), where I played caddy and bolero to earn a few bucks: there were the best, with Severiano at the head, and I decided I wanted to be like them”.
“I have had the privilege of sharing my career with four generations of golfers: first I started with Seve, Lyle, Woosnam, Langer… and I was also lucky enough to play with Jack Nicklaus; then came Olazábal and Montgomerie, and later Clarke and Westwood; I medaled alongside Tiger Woods and now I compete with McIlroy and Manassero, who could be my sons!”
Jimenez was born in Churriana (Malaga) on January 5, 1964 and turned professional in 1982. His first participation in the European Tour took place in the 1983 Spanish Open in Las Brisas (Marbella, Malaga); since then, he has won 19 individual titles in the European Tour, in addition to countless national titles, and has been part of the European Ryder Cup team in four editions, being decisive in the victories that our team achieved in 2004 and 2010.
In 1997 – “one of the most extraordinary weeks of my life”- he was vice-captain under the orders of his great friend Seve Ballesteros in the 1997 Ryder Cup, held at Valderrama, and repeated his position in the last edition held at Medinah, in Chicago: “It was impressive, I will never forget it. We went with the best European team in history and with a magnificent captain, my great friend “Vascorro”, who deserved us to win”.
Jiménez joined the European Tour as a full member after his fourth attempt through the “Qualifying School” (1985, 86, 87, 88) and has been competing for 25 consecutive years, during which he has provided fans with unforgettable moments, such as when he won the BMW PGA Championship in 2008, precisely at Wentworth, beating Oliver Wilson in a play-off.
His most loyal followers, from Malaga and Churrian, will never forget the victory in the Turespaña Masters Open de Andalucía at the Parador Málaga Golf in 1999; or that brave birdie on the 18th hole of Montecastillo (Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz) to win the Volvo Masters 99 (“I know I gambled, but, to the flag… always in its natural place”).
He achieved his first victory on the European Tour at the Piaget Open in Belgium in 1992 and, curiously, has won 12 of his 19 titles by the time he turned 40 (January 2004), becoming the oldest player to triumph on Tour: UBS Hong Kong Open in 2012 at the age of 48 years and 318 days.
But these figures only reflect part of the history of the incombustible Jiménez; and the word “legend”, which is so much abused, is the one that the European Tour considers more appropriate to describe the Malaga-born player, whom they consider “one of our best ambassadors”, as the text of the liquor box they gave him on Tuesday read.
His taste for cigars, good wine and cars is well known, being recognized as one of the most charismatic players of the modern era, with an amazing quality to “get” in the pocket and get a smile from those who cross his path anywhere on the planet, whether fellow professionals, spectators, sponsors, organizers or journalists who see him as a person whose passion for life and enjoyment is as intense as contagious.
The best thing that could happen to the European Tour, and to golf in general, is for Miguel Ángel to continue being active, and this is his intention: “I will continue as long as my body holds up and injuries respect me, and as long as I feel I can win and kick the younger players’ asses. Next year I will be in my fifties but I think I can still keep on fighting and, above all, I intend to continue enjoying life to the fullest and all that golf has to offer me”.
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