Miguel Ángel Jiménez has won his first major on the Champions Tour by becoming champion of the Regions Tradition, held at Greystone Golf & Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama. The player from Malaga, leader from start to finish, has signed a last round of 70 strokes to win with 19 under par and 3 ahead of the runners-up: Joe Durant, Gene Sauers and Steve Stricker.
El “Pisha” (Churriana, Málaga, 5/1/1964) adds with this five Champions Tour titles, one per season: in 2014 he won the Greater Gwinnett Championship, in 2015 he won the Mitsubishi Electric Championship, in 2016 he won the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic and revalidated the title last year. Of the nine tournaments he has played in 2018, he has finished in the top ten in five of them and ranks fourth in the order of merit.
Third time’s the charm. Jimenez had accumulated six top fives in senior majors and on two occasions he started as leader, or tied for first, at the start of the last day: in 2016 he finished tied third in the British Open and that same year he was second in the US Open. Today, at last, he toasted with the silver jug.
The player from Malaga was euphoric after his victory: “I am very happy, very happy to have won in ‘Sweet Home Alabama’, as the song says. It was about time! I had been very close on several occasions and finally I have achieved it. It’s been a great week and I’ve hit the ball really well.
“Today I started off shabby and it was the weakest round. Steve Stricker didn’t give me a break, he played very well and it was quite tight. He made birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, and on the 15th, which I bogeyed, he caught me. But the putt I made on the 16th for birdie was crucial to put me ahead again. He had put pressure on me before, so I put pressure on him. That’s golf.
“Since I came to the Champions Tour I’ve been playing very well; I’ve had five wins but I’ve had many opportunities to win. Also, I’m lucky enough to still be enjoying myself a lot, which is the most important thing.
“It’s my first Grande! I’m happy and I’m going to celebrate in style.”
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