Miguel Ángel Jiménez has been proclaimed champion of the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic for the second consecutive year after winning the first play-off hole against American Gene Sauers, with whom he finished tied with 13 under par, thus conquering his fourth victory in the Champions Tour.
The player from Malaga, who was defending his title at the Fallen Oak Golf Club course in Biloxi, has won again and already has one victory per season in the U.S. veterans circuit, in which he recognizes he is “enjoying more and more every day”. In 2014 he won the Greater Gwinnett Championship, the following year he won the Mitsubishi Electric Championship and in 2016 he won the same tournament, repeating his triumph.
Miguel Ángel Jiménez: “I am very happy to have won, although it was not an easy victory. The two times I played the 18th hole seemed like night and day; first, six shots for a double bogey, I was undecided between the eight or nine iron and, when I went to hit the ball, I got completely blocked. I don’t know what happened to me, I didn’t even know how to hit it. I am human. And I missed a very short putt. The play-off hole was the opposite: I hit a good drive, a magnificent seven iron and I made a three-meter putt for birdie. That’s golf!
“All three days I played well, leaving myself opportunities and hitting the ball well. After the bogey on hole five -with three putts- I recovered with birdies on the next two holes and when I putted on the ninth I thought that if I kept playing like that I could win the tournament; I made two more birdies on the 11th and 13th and arrived at the 18th tee with a two-stroke lead and 4 under par. But, as I always say: be careful because it’s all bulls up to the tail.
“I’m glad to have successfully defended the title, I was looking forward to winning again. I had been looking forward to the victory for a long time and finally I did it! It was very nice to do it with all the support of the public, the people here are very welcoming and have been cheering me on all the time.
“I’m enjoying a lot on the Champions Tour and the intention is to play more on this circuit, probably 90 percent of my calendar; I’m 53 years old and I’ve been going around the world for more than 35 years, and although from time to time I like to participate in the European Tour because I think I’m still competitive there, this is more relaxed, there is no cut and the three rounds of competition are very much appreciated. Maybe we have to give way to the younger players”.
List of winners
European Circuit
2014 Spanish Open
2013 Hong Kong Open
2012 UBS Hong Kong Open
2010 Omega European Masters, Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland
2010 French Open, Paris
2010 Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Dubai
2008 BMW PGA Championship, Wentworth, England
2007 Hong Kong Open
2005 Omega Hong Kong Open
2005 The Celtic Manor Wales Open, Wales
2004 Johnnie Walker Classic, Bangkok, Thailand
2004 Algarve Open de Portugal
2004 BMW Asian Open, Shanghai, China
2004 BMW International Open, Munich, Germany
2003 Turespaña Mallorca Classic, Pula Golf, Mallorca
1999 Volvo Masters, Montecastillo, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
1999 Turespaña Open de Andalucía, Parador Málaga Golf
1998 Turespaña Masters Open Baleares, Santa Ponça, Mallorca
1998 Trophèe Lancôme, Paris
1994 Heineken Dutch Open, The Netherlands
1992 Open Piaget Belgium
Champions Tour
2014 Greater Gwinnett Championship
2015 Mitsubishi Electric Championship
2016 Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic presented by C-Spire
2017 Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic
Ryder Cup: 1999, 2004 (European victory), 2008 and 2010 (European victory). Vice-captain in 1997 under Seve Ballesteros, in 2012 with his great friend José Mari Olazábal and in 2014 with Paul McGinley.
Dunhill Cup: 1999 and 2000, Spain’s victory with Jiménez in the team.
Seve Trophy: 2000 (Continental Europe win), 2013 (Continental Europe win)
EurAsia Cup 2014: Captain-player (tie)
Challenge Tour
1988 Open de L’inforatique, France
Other titles
Champion of Spain 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2006.
2003 RCG Sevilla National Circuit
1999 Oki Telepizza
1989 Benson and Hedges Trophy (with Xonia Wunsch)
Andalusian Professional Champion 1986 & 89
APG Spanish Doubles Champions together with Andres Jimenez in 2006 and 07
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