Miguel Angel Jimenez repeated his history making triumph 12 months ago, by extending his record as the European Tour’s oldest winner by claiming the Hong Kong Open for a fourth time. The 49-year-old Spaniard, who will become eligible for the senior circuit in just a few weeks, holed an 18-foot birdie putt in the first extra hole to defeat Stuart Manley and Prom Meesawat in a playoff.
It is the popular Spaniard’s 20th victory on the European Tour, with 13 of those now coming since he turned 40 in 2004. After successfully defending his title, Jimenez was noticeably proud of that achievement.
“I love this place, I love this golf course, I love the tournament,” said Jimenez, who had posted a final round of 66 to tie Manley and Meesawat at 12-under.
“I played so well and I holed some putts, and the one in the play-off gave me victory.”
It is a victory that now raises the very real possibility that Jimenez could qualify to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup next year at Gleneagles. Although it will still be a challenging task, with nine months left in the qualifying process, Jimenez has given himself a strong foundation to build upon as he seeks to eclipse Ted Ray’s record as the oldest Ryder Cup player from this side of the Atlantic.
“If I play the way I am playing this week I will be in the Ryder Cup Team,” he added. “There is one more year to go and now I get this victory here it will help a lot. You never know; I would love to be part of the team again.”
Prom Meesawat had looked set to claim his maiden European Tour title, after making two eagles to move three shots clear of the field with five holes remaining. However, the Thai would bogey the next, with Jimenez making consecutive birdies to catch him.
However, Meesawat would retake the lead, after holing from 30-feet for par on the 16th, just as Jimenez three-putted on the previous green. The 29-year-old would par in, but Jimenez would tie him after making a birdie of his own on the 17th.
Stuart Manley had come into the day with a one-shot lead, which he instantly lost on his opening hole. It would be an unpredictable performance from the 34-year-old, who recently gained notoriety for following a hole in one with an 11 at Royal Melbourne. However, the Welshman, who recently came through qualifying school for the tenth time, would dramatically chip-in on the 18th to join the playoff.
After that moment of brilliance, Manley would hit his approach shot into the hospitality marquee in the playoff, with Meesawat also missing the green. However, they both recovered well to make par, but Jimenez’s experience would ultimately show, as he snatched the title from their grasps with a triumphant birdie.
“It's been an amazing week for me,” said Meesawat. “I didn't feel any disappointment in the play-off. I did my best this week, and it’s my best finish on this golf course.”
Manley reflected on a day that promised so much. “I'm pretty pleased. Obviously I’m disappointed to lose in a play-off with a poor shot, but for Miguel to make birdie is pretty special. It was pretty special to make three myself to get into the play-off. So I can take a lot from the week.
”This week will give me a lot of confidence. It's money on the board for The Race to Dubai and everything feels very positive.”
In the end, it was once again Miguel’s day in Hong Kong. Who knows, it may be the victory that sees him propelled into yet another European Ryder Cup Team in September.