MIGUEL, THE MAN FROM HACIENDA DEL ALAMO
GOLF RESORT, WINS
HONG KONG OPEN
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort professional Miguel Angel Jimenez held on at the final hole to overcome Sweden’s Robert Karlsson for his second UBS Hong Kong Open title today.
Jimenez, pictured right, who had previously won the event in 2004, held on to bogey the final 18th hole for the win as overnight leader Karlsson double bogeyed the 18th hole to finish in joint second place at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
Jimenez, 43, blasted a three-under-par 67 in the final round and walked away with the top prize of US$375,000 (£180,000) at the co-sanctioned Asian Tour and European Tour event.
Jimenez, pictured right, who had previously won the event in 2004, held on to bogey the final 18th hole for the win as overnight leader Karlsson double bogeyed the 18th hole to finish in joint second place at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
Jimenez, 43, blasted a three-under-par 67 in the final round and walked away with the top prize of US$375,000 (£180,000) at the co-sanctioned Asian Tour and European Tour event.
But of more importance is that he has jumped from 22nd to third on the Ryder Cup European points list. "I was very nervous on the last green after seeing what Robert had done and I started shaking over my putt," he said.
Jimenez has played in two Ryder Cups, the last as a member of Bernhard Langer's 2006 Oakland Hills winning team.
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell boosted his goal of earning Ryder Cup selection after enjoying his best start to a new season with sixth place.
Karlsson, who claimed the runner-up spot in Portugal last month, produced a 72 and finished alongside Korean stalwart Choi Kyung-ju who posted a strong 67. Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, a two-time Asian number one, enjoyed a steady end to his campaign also in tied second place after his best round of 65.
“It’s very nice to win again here, it's great. I’ve been playing very well throughout the week, and, well, very pleased, happy indeed. The only down part is I feel, I have to say for Robert, the way it finished as he played so well the whole week. He had a double at the last, and it's not the best way to finish as I know he wanted to win,” said the new champion who hails from Malaga.
Jimenez trailed Karlsson by four strokes heading into the final round but he kept his game going with an even-par run on the front nine. The Spaniard piled on the pressure on the way home with two birdies and an eagle at the par-5 13th hole before three-putting the last hole for the bogey.
“On the 18th hole, I hit my first putt and thought it was going to be very fast, downgrain, downhill and I left it too short, the same distance that he had his putt for bogey. And then I putted first and I missed that one, and he missed his one and that's it.
“But overall I really like the golf course. I also enjoy the heat. I am like a fish in the water when it's hot; I like it very much. I feel comfortable playing here. I like the people here too so it’s been a great experience for me,” added Jimenez.
Karlsson had a four stroke cushion coming into the final round and kept it steady with three birdies against an equal number of bogeys after 15 holes. But a misjudged chip from the bunker on the 18th hole forced the ball into the rough and then the Swedish player two-putted for a double bogey.
“The 18th hole, we were right in between clubs and wanted to hit it really close. Missed it a little bit and I got a really bad lie in the rough down there. But I would never expect Miguel to three-putt. Miguel hit a lot of good putts," said Karlsson.
“I did what I could but I don't know what I could have done differently. A couple decisions at the end of the day cost me a couple of shots but when you're out there, I don't think I would have like to do any different decisions. End of the day, he beat me fair and square."
Thailand’s Thongchai was pleased with his week after a solid run on the back nine in the final round when he sank six birdies out of the last seven holes.
“It was really windy today. The wind changed direction and was very tough, not very easy. I tried to hit the ball on the fairway and get on the greens and make the putts. I putted very well on the back nine and that was a great finish for me. I am happy,” said Thongchai.
Korea’s Choi was equally impressive firing a 67 that included an eagle at the par five 13th hole.
“I kept it going today but it was very tough with the strong wind out there. But the atmosphere here is great at the UBS Hong Kong Open, it's fantastic and the last round, unbelievable,” said Choi, who won two titles on the US PGA Tour this year.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Jimenez has played in two Ryder Cups, the last as a member of Bernhard Langer's 2006 Oakland Hills winning team.
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell boosted his goal of earning Ryder Cup selection after enjoying his best start to a new season with sixth place.
Karlsson, who claimed the runner-up spot in Portugal last month, produced a 72 and finished alongside Korean stalwart Choi Kyung-ju who posted a strong 67. Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, a two-time Asian number one, enjoyed a steady end to his campaign also in tied second place after his best round of 65.
“It’s very nice to win again here, it's great. I’ve been playing very well throughout the week, and, well, very pleased, happy indeed. The only down part is I feel, I have to say for Robert, the way it finished as he played so well the whole week. He had a double at the last, and it's not the best way to finish as I know he wanted to win,” said the new champion who hails from Malaga.
Jimenez trailed Karlsson by four strokes heading into the final round but he kept his game going with an even-par run on the front nine. The Spaniard piled on the pressure on the way home with two birdies and an eagle at the par-5 13th hole before three-putting the last hole for the bogey.
“On the 18th hole, I hit my first putt and thought it was going to be very fast, downgrain, downhill and I left it too short, the same distance that he had his putt for bogey. And then I putted first and I missed that one, and he missed his one and that's it.
“But overall I really like the golf course. I also enjoy the heat. I am like a fish in the water when it's hot; I like it very much. I feel comfortable playing here. I like the people here too so it’s been a great experience for me,” added Jimenez.
Karlsson had a four stroke cushion coming into the final round and kept it steady with three birdies against an equal number of bogeys after 15 holes. But a misjudged chip from the bunker on the 18th hole forced the ball into the rough and then the Swedish player two-putted for a double bogey.
“The 18th hole, we were right in between clubs and wanted to hit it really close. Missed it a little bit and I got a really bad lie in the rough down there. But I would never expect Miguel to three-putt. Miguel hit a lot of good putts," said Karlsson.
“I did what I could but I don't know what I could have done differently. A couple decisions at the end of the day cost me a couple of shots but when you're out there, I don't think I would have like to do any different decisions. End of the day, he beat me fair and square."
Thailand’s Thongchai was pleased with his week after a solid run on the back nine in the final round when he sank six birdies out of the last seven holes.
“It was really windy today. The wind changed direction and was very tough, not very easy. I tried to hit the ball on the fairway and get on the greens and make the putts. I putted very well on the back nine and that was a great finish for me. I am happy,” said Thongchai.
Korea’s Choi was equally impressive firing a 67 that included an eagle at the par five 13th hole.
“I kept it going today but it was very tough with the strong wind out there. But the atmosphere here is great at the UBS Hong Kong Open, it's fantastic and the last round, unbelievable,” said Choi, who won two titles on the US PGA Tour this year.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4 x 70)
265 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 65-67-66-67
266 Thongchai Jaidee (Thai) 66-67-68-65, K J Choi (Korea) 62-72-65-67, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 64-64-66-72
267 Peter Hanson (Swe) 68-66-65-68
269 Graeme McDowell (NIr) 67-66-68-68
270 Trevor Immelman (SAf) 71-62-70-67, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 69-64-68-69, Gary Simpson (Australia) 69-67-65-69, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 66-68-66-70, Marcus Fraser (Australia) 67-68-64-71
271 Mike Weir (Can) 69-64-67-71, Scott Strange (Australia) 66-68-66-71, Shiv Kapur (India) 67-67-65-72
272 Robert-Jan Derksen (Netherlands) 72-67-68-65, Garry Houston (Wal) 63-71-71-67, Simon Dyson (Eng) 68-65-70-69, Thaworn Wiratchant (Thai) 69-68-66-69, Liang Wen-Chong (China) 68-66-68-70
Other totals:
266 Thongchai Jaidee (Thai) 66-67-68-65, K J Choi (Korea) 62-72-65-67, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 64-64-66-72
267 Peter Hanson (Swe) 68-66-65-68
269 Graeme McDowell (NIr) 67-66-68-68
270 Trevor Immelman (SAf) 71-62-70-67, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 69-64-68-69, Gary Simpson (Australia) 69-67-65-69, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 66-68-66-70, Marcus Fraser (Australia) 67-68-64-71
271 Mike Weir (Can) 69-64-67-71, Scott Strange (Australia) 66-68-66-71, Shiv Kapur (India) 67-67-65-72
272 Robert-Jan Derksen (Netherlands) 72-67-68-65, Garry Houston (Wal) 63-71-71-67, Simon Dyson (Eng) 68-65-70-69, Thaworn Wiratchant (Thai) 69-68-66-69, Liang Wen-Chong (China) 68-66-68-70
Other totals:
273 Retief Goosen (SAf) 69 66 68 70 (jt 20th).
278 Gary Orr (Sco) 67 68 70 73 (jt 40th) ($13,725).
278 Gary Orr (Sco) 67 68 70 73 (jt 40th) ($13,725).
281 Paul McGinley (Ire) 68 70 72 71 (jt 50th).
285 Barry Hume (Sco) 65 68 74 78 (65th) ($5,175).
286 David Howell (Eng) 72 66 74 74 (66th).
288 Marc Warren (Sco) 67 71 76 74 (jt 69th of 73) ($3,916).
288 Marc Warren (Sco) 67 71 76 74 (jt 69th of 73) ($3,916).
+Read the latest entries to the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival (Feb 10-23) by switching over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk
Labels: Pro Men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, November 18, 2007
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