Date: November 18, 2007
Author:

Aussies tie for 7th as Jimenez wins

Miguel Angel Jimenez claimed a second Hong Kong Open title in three years after overnight leader Robert Karlsson imploded on the final green to hand the Spaniard a thrilling one-shot victory. Australians Marcus Fraser and Gary Simpson both finished at ten-under par for the tournament to be tied equal seventh, while Scott Strange fired a 71 in his last round to finish a further stroke back in a tie for 12th. Karlsson held a four-stoke lead over Jimenez at the start of the final round, but after failing to match the fireworks which have seen him dominate the field this week, the pair headed down the last tied at 16 under. Jimenez played his second shot from the rough to within 20 feet of a tightly protected pin, while Karlsson came up short on the bank in front of the green. He needed two chips to get within 10 feet and leave Jimenez with a couple of putts to claim the title. The Spaniard&aposs conservative first effort left him six feet short but could not hole out. However, the Swede pulled his putt to sign for a double-bogey six to hand Jimenez the title despite his bogey for a final-round 67. Karlsson dropped into a tie for second with Korea&aposs KJ Choi and Thailand&aposs Thongchai Jaidee at 14 under. Jimenez crucially picked up three shots five holes on the back nine, including an eagle at the par-five 13th after he and Karlsson both reached the turn in a level-par 34. Choi, aiming to become the first Asian winner at Fanling in nine years, also dropped a shot at the last after first finding the trees off the tee and then greenside bunker with his third. The 18th at the Hong Kong Golf Club has a history of wrecking rounds after South Africa&aposs James Kingston let the championship slip out of his grasp in 2004 and 2005 with a bogey and double bogey respectively – the second occasion allowing Jimenez to claim the title by one stroke.