JIMENEZ IS 50 TODAY AND HE WANTS TO BE RYDER CUP CAPTAIN SOME DAY

NEWS RELEASE
Miguel Angel Jiménez, the oldest winner in the history of The European Tour, celebrated his 50th birthday today by declaring his intention to compete in The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex, which tees off at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, exactly 200 days from now.
The evergreen man from Malaga they call "The Mechanic"  has also set his sights on playing in
the Ryder Cup match at Gleneagles in September - and then becoming skipper of the Europe team not too far down the road after that.

The Spaniard, who claimed his 20th European Tour win in last month's Hong Kong Open, is maintaining a busy schedule and will take part in this week's Volvo Champions tournament in South Africa, but plans to take time out to make his debut in the over-50s Major tournament in July at the South Wales links venue.
Jimenez is then aiming to become Europe's oldest Ryder Cup player by earning a place in the team ahead of the event in Gleneagles in September, and believes one day he can be captain.
"I think I can do it but I have to go step by step. I would certainly like to be at Gleneagles. I am
waiting for news and it would be great if I can."
Perhaps a reference to being named as one of Paul McGinley's vice-captains if he does not make it as a player.
Jimenez has been a Ryder Cup player on four occasions, the last in 2010 at the Celtic Manor Resort. The distinctive cigar-smoking, pony-tailed character, who began his career as a caddie remains as driven as ever.
"I feel fine. I have spent 25 years travelling the world and competing and if you aren't happy doing that then it would be impossible to be so. I am motivated," he said, before evaluating how the sport has changed in Spain.
"I am the last of the caddie players," he said.
"Golf has evolved. Before it was much more difficult to make it as we came into the game by being caddies and working our way up.
"We couldn't play with the children of (club) members and play better than them. I am the last caddie and (Jose Maria) Olazabal is the first Spanish amateur player that came from humble roots."

The popular Spaniard remains a potent force at the very highest level of the game. His 20th European Tour win in last month’s Hong Kong Open extended his own record as the European Tour’s oldest champion.
It was Jiménez’s 13th European Tour victory beyond the age of 40 – another record - and he is aiming to become Europe’s oldest Ryder Cup player in September..
“I'm looking forward to playing my first Senior Major at Royal Porthcawl” he said. “I hear it's a great golf course and I am really looking forward to playing there for the first time.  
"I was checking the Internet to see where it is. About 20 minutes west from Cardiff and on the coast – perfect venue!”
Having enjoyed so much success in his 40s, Jiménez admits to having mixed feelings about reaching senior age, but he is also looking forward to trying to become the first European winner of The Senior Open since Bernhard Langer in 2010.  
“Oh my goodness, am I really 50?” he said in mock indignation. “I can’t believe time has passed so fast. It seems just like yesterday that I got my Tour card and then – five, ten, 25 years have passed so quickly.
“Now, in my 26th season, I am a rookie again – the young man in the field at the Senior Open. It will be nice to see some familiar faces from the old days but I don’t know if they are going to like seeing me competing against them! “
Jiménez has enjoyed some close calls in Major Championships as a popular member of the European Tour, but he has no preference when it comes to the Majors on the other side of 50. He added: “It’s always nice to win a Major, whatever Tour I am on. I am just looking forward to this chance to win one on either Tour. I don’t want to leave my life on the European Tour but I am going to enjoy my other life in senior golf as well.”
To recognise Miguel’s milestone birthday, the pre-Christmas ticket offer for The 2014 Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex has been extended by two weeks.
That means golf fans booking before January 16 can enjoy large savings, with season tickets costing just £60 – a 25 per cent saving on the gate price of £80.
One-day tickets purchased before the deadline cost £20, a saving of £10 on the gate price, while Wednesday practice day tickets are also available at the reduced price of £10, a saving of £5 on the gate price. Under 16s are admitted for free when accompanied by an adult and parking is also free.
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “Miguel Angel Jiménez is one of the most popular figures in European golf and we are delighted that he has confirmed his participation in this year’s Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at Royal Porthcawl.
“It already promises to be a special week when Wales hosts its first Senior Major Championship and Miguel’s presence in the field, in a country where he has already enjoyed some memorable moments, will certainly add to the sense of occasion.”
American Mark Wiebe won the 2013 Senior Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, defeating two-time Masters Champion Bernhard Langer in a play-off.
The Championship delivered the best of senior golf with Wiebe and Langer joined in the field by stars such as Fred Couples, Sandy Lyle, Tom Watson and Welshman Ian Woosnam, along with Colin Montgomerie, the man who led Europe to Ryder Cup glory at The Celtic Manor Resort in 2010.
Tickets for The 2014 Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex can be bought online via www.senioropengolf.com or by calling +44 (0)800 0232557, with details of hospitality packages also available.