As Miguel Angel Jimenez equals Sam Torrance’s record number of 706 European Tour appearances at this week’s Betfred British Masters, we thought we’d take a look through some of the career highlights of golf’s most interesting man. Sit back, light a cigar, pour yourself a glass and enjoy, in no particular order, Jimenez’s finest moments.
2014: An historic home-soil win
Jimenez broke his own record as the European Tour’s oldest winner – and became the first 50-year-old to win on the circuit – with a play-off win over Richard Green and Thomas Pieters at the Open de Espana. Cue the cigars and Rioja.
2010: A memorable duel in the Desert
The first of three wins in 2010 came courtesy of a three-hole play-off win over fellow Tour legend Lee Westwood at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Jimenez was crowned the victor in the Middle East for the first time in his career when he rolled in a par putt after the Englishman missed a slippery putt on their third hole of sudden-death at Emirates Golf Club.
2015: Ace count hits double figures
Just one week after matching Colin Montgomerie’s record of nine holes-in-one on the European Tour, Jimenez made it ten in fine style at the BMW PGA Championship. The customary hip-jiggle and sword sheathing celebration was given another airing, much to the delight of those in attendance and watching on TV.
2008: Victory at Europe’s biggest non-Major
Career win No.15 on the European Tour came at the Tour’s HQ – Wentworth Club – as he downed Oliver Wilson on the second extra hole to win the BMW PGA Championship. The duo would become Ryder Cup teammates later that year at Valhalla.
2018: Senior Major win at St Andrews
Jimenez came close on many occasions in the Majors but had to wait until he joined the senior circuit before he got his first win. He won two of the PGA Tour Champions’ elite events in 2018, with the highlight coming at St Andrews for The Senior Open where he held off Bernhard Langer – the over-50s dominant force – to win by one.
2010: A Ryder Cup win on home soil
After three Ryder Cup appearances in the United States (including a win in 2004), Jimenez finally got a chance to impress in front of European fans and he played his part as Europe came from behind to narrowly clinch a memorable match up at Celtic Manor in 2010. He won three times that season to qualify and in Wales he earned two points from three matches, including a crucial 4&3 win over Bubba Watson in the singles to help put the seal on a 14.5 – 13.5 victory.
2020: Still mixing it with the best
Jimenez wrapped up his ninth win on the American senior tour with a play-off win against Hall of Famers Fred Couples and Ernie Els at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in January. Two weeks ago he finished eighth on the European Tour at the Austrian Open.
Miguel Angel Jimenez: Meet The Coolest Man In Golf
