Jimenez rewrites history books again

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Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez broke his own record as the oldest ever European Tour winner at the Open de Espana on Sunday.

Just weeks after nearly becoming the oldest major winner in history at Augusta – and following it up with a victorious Champions Tour debut seven days later – the 50-year-old won his national championship at PGA Catalunya Resort in a three-way play-off with Australian Richard Green and Austria’s Thomas Pieters.

The trio all finished on four under par following Sunday’s final round, Green courtesy of a 72, overnight leader Pieters following a 75 and Jimenez having compiled a one-over 73.

At one stage, Jimenez led by two shots but let it slip, while Green will also be left ruing a disastrous triply-bogey at the 14th.

Heading back to the par-4 18th, all three failed to find the green in regulation, but Jimenez produced a superb chip shot that nearly found the hole before tapping in for par, while neither Green or Pieters was able to get up and down.

Jimenez now has 21 European Tour titles to his name, 14 of which have come since turning 40.

He also recently tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend.

“There’s no words to describe what it means to me, you need to be into my skin but I’m not going to let you!” Jiménez told the European Tour’s website.

“It’s amazing. It’s my 21st victory on The European Tour and 27 times I played the Spanish Open. I have been close a couple of times. Today it was very tough out there but I got it in the end.

“All the victories are special, all are unique, some of them give you more money, some less, but all of them are important. You play to win and when you make it you have to appreciate it.

“I don’t know if I felt nerves, but you do feel tension, you feel the pressure.”

Asked the secret of his longevity, Jiménez added: “There is no secret. Good food, good wine, good cigars and some exercise!”

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