It is patently clear that Miguel Ángel Jiménez’s 48 years are no bar to ongoing success, at least when he is in top form. In fact, he is now the oldest player to win on the Tour, beating the record previously held by Des Smyth, who won the 2001 Madeira Open when he was six months younger than the Málaga star. Jiménez achieved the feat in the Hong Kong Open held last November.

“El Pisha” or “The Mechanic”, as he is popularly known, wrote another page in the history books, actually beating three records in the Far East: oldest player to win on the European Tour, at 48 years and 318 days (born Churriana, 5 January 1964); 12 Tour titles after turning 40; and a sixth victory in Asia. It was the third time – in a career total of 22 Tour wins – that he had triumphed in the Hong Kong Open (2005, 2008 and 2011).

Jiménez won the Hong Kong title with a 15-under total (65-67-68- 65=265) and one-stroke margin against second-placed Fredrik Andersson Hed. It was the third victory by a Spaniard in 2012, following Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Omega Dubai Desert Classic) and Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño (Italian Open); and the 166th overall on the Tour.

“It’s very nice – I hope it’s not the last one,” he joked after being presented with the trophy. ”I really love this place. I love the golf course – it’s a great golf course where you have to control the ball very well, it’s not a matter of distance.”

OLIVE OIL AND RED WINE Asked about the secret of his longevity, he responded, “This is maybe the olive oil in my joints, and the nice Rioja wine and those things keep you fit and flexible, no? The most important thing, I do what I like to do in my life, and golf has given me all of this pleasure. Winning now, as you say, the oldest winner on the Tour, 48, my goodness, 24 years I\'ve been on the Tour – I\'ve been around.

“I still love it and I think that is fantastic, to love what you\'re doing, and enjoy yourself, keep fit, keep working myself a little bit and stretching a lot, and that\'s the main thing to keep the body to compete with the new guns.”

Jiménez said he had been playing well for a while, hitting fairways and greens, but this hadn’t been reflected in his results. “I’ve been patient and I knew that, sooner or later, I would win again.

“During these two years without a victory (since the Omega European Masters in September 2010) there had been highs and lows in motivation. You see that time is passing by. You achieve good positions but no victory and start hearing everything: a lot of people ask if you’re going to play the Senior Tour, and it seems as though they already have you retired. I have always said, ‘Time will tell.’ This win means a lot and is very special, better late than never, and I believe I still haven’t reached the end of my career.

“I know I’m hitting the ball well, still able to control it, and I feel competitive. The day I don’t, that’s the day I retire, but in the meantime I hope to continue making it difficult for them!”

SKIING ACCIDENT

Jiménez has been ruled out of action for at least three months after a skiing accident during the festive season.

The Spaniard was skiing in the Sierra Nevada mountaisn in Andalucía on December 29 when a fall caused his tibia – just below his right knee - to break.

The 19 time European Tour winner was quickly taken to the mountain medical centre for an X-ray before being transferred to a hospital in nearby Malaga, where he was operated on that evening.

 

Recommended Courses