Jimenez eyes Ryder record
VETERAN Miguel Angel Jimenez fuelled his dream of becoming the oldest player to compete in the Ryder Cup next year by setting a new record at the Hong Kong Open yesterday.
The Spaniard, 49, beat Welshman Stuart Manley and Thailand’s Prom Meesawat in a play-off to successfully defend his title and break his own record for the oldest man to win on the European Tour.
Jimenez, who turns 50 in January, would overtake Ted Ray, who played in the Ryder Cup aged 50 and two months in 1927, as the oldest to take part in the biennial contest between Europe and America.
“If I play the way I am playing this week I will be in the Ryder Cup team,” he said. “There is one more year to go and this victory will help a lot. You never know, I would love to be part of the team again.”
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn holed two eagles in a closing 65 to win the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa by two shots. He finished 20 under, with Jamie Donaldson of Wales and Sergio Garcia tied for second.