Date: May 26, 2008
Author:

Joy for Jimenez

Miguel Angel Jimenez has achieved the biggest victory of his long career by downing a star-studded field which included an impressive Richard Green. Forty-four-year-old Jiminez took two playoff holes to down Oliver Wilson and secure the record BMW PGA Championship first prize at England&aposs Wentworth Golf Club. It was clearly the Spaniard&aposs day after a hole in one earlier in his final round helped him to a 68 and 11-under-par after 72 holes. Australian Green, meanwhile, was left to rue his third-round 73. He fired a closing-round 69 to close tied for sixth, four shots behind the leading pair. Englishman Wilson, who would have headed the money list himself if he had triumphed, has now been a runner-up no fewer than seven times, including four this season, and the 27-year-old has yet to taste success. It was his third play-off loss and a fine bunker shot at the first play-off hole had given him a putt to win after Jimenez had three-putted from the back fringe, but his seven-footer lipped out. Then, when they played the long 18th for the third time in the day, he found the right-hand rough just as he had on his first visit and a 12-foot birdie attempt missed as well. “This is my 20th season on Tour and it&aposs a nice present,” said Jimenez. With one hole to play Wilson and Jimenez, seeking to be the third oldest winner of the title after Dai Rees and Arnold Palmer, were one ahead of overnight leader Robert Karlsson. Wilson was in the group ahead and by missing a 15-foot birdie chance – he will certainly have no fond memories of the green – opened the door. Jimenez was favourite when he was in the rough just right of the green in two, but then fluffed his chip. A three-way tie was on the cards then with Karlsson only three feet from the flag with his pitch, but while Jimenez got up and down to tie Wilson on the 11-under-par mark of 277, the Swede not only fluffed his chance, but missed the next one as well. That made him third for the third week in a row and this time in a tie with England&aposs Luke Donald, who had begun the last day nine adrift of him and shot a best-of-the-day 65. Indian Jyoti Randhawa was fifth. A week that promised so much for Paul McGinley at halfway – his 13-under total was a tournament best – fell away badly. He could have gone top of the money list as well, but finished only joint 10th. Australian Marcus Fraser – who shot 67 and 69 in his opening two rounds – was another to trail off the pace. He followed up his penultimate round 76 with a 75 and ended the week one-under-par. Compatriot Peter O&aposMalley (73) was two shots further adrift. BMW PGA Championship final scores -11: Angle Jimenez 70, 67, 72, 68, Oliver Wilson 70, 66, 73, 68 -9: Luke Donald 72, 69, 73, 65, Robert Karlsson 66, 69, 70, 74 -8: Jyoti Randhawa 73, 68, 69, 70 -7: Retief Goosen 76, 69, 70, 66, Richard Green (Australia) 70, 69, 73, 69, Alexander Noren 75, 68, 71, 67, Andres Romero 72, 69, 73, 67 -6: Alejandro Canizares 72, 66, 74, 70, Paul Casey 71, 68, 73, 70, Simon Khan 71, 71, 71, 69, Soren Kjeldsen 71, 65, 76, 70, Paul McGinley 65, 66, 79, 72, Steve Webster 71, 70, 72, 69 -5: Felipe Aguilar 71, 64, 74, 71, Oliver Fisher 71, 73, 69, 70, Peter Hanson 72, 71, 70, 70, Martin Kaymer 71, 70, 71, 71 Also: -1: Marcus Fraser (Australia) 67, 69, 76, 75 +2: Peter O&aposMalley (Australia) 71, 72, 74, 73