Golf:Five of Colin Montgomerie's Ryder Cup side have now won since the start of August after Miguel Angel Jimenez survived a late scare to take the Omega European Masters in Switzerland today.
The 46-year-old Spaniard, six clear with seven to play, had that slashed to one by Celtic Manor team-mate Edoardo Molinari and then hit a tree with his tee shot to the short 16th. But the Italian was the one to bogey there, while Jimenez got up and down from a fairway bunker for a birdie on the next and, with a closing par, triumphed by three.
It follows the wins by Ross Fisher at the Irish Open, Martin Kaymer in the USPGA Championship, Peter Hanson at the Czech Open and Molinari in last week’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
Jimenez, making his 22nd successive trip to Crans-sur-Sierre, finally got his hands on the trophy with a four-under-par 67 and 21-under total of 263. He becomes the eighth oldest winner in European Tour history and the first to record three victories this season.
Incredibly, 11 of his 18 titles have come since he turned 40.
“I made a good recovery at the 16th — that was probably the key to the day,” said Jimenez after being sprayed with champagne and then being encouraged to jump in the pond by the final green. “I love to come here. It’s not only my two times second, it’s the amount of times I have finished top 10 and been in contention, so it means a lot.”
He was not the only one celebrating, however.
Molinari’s 17-year-old compatriot Matteo Manassero came third on 16 under following a 68 and secured a Tour card for next season in six starts as a professional.
“I am a full member for the first time. It was my goal and what I wanted to do and now I am here,” said last year’s British amateur champion.
Molinari himself now heads off for a three-week break before the Ryder Cup, having finished first and second in his last two events, while Jimenez has come seventh, third and first in his last three. They were the only two members of Montgomerie’s team in the tournament.
Peter Lawrie, in a share of ninth place on 11 under, was the leading Irish player with Darren Clarke a further two back.
Collated final round scores & totals
(Gbr & Irl unless stated,
Irishin bold, par 71)
263Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 67 61 68 67
266Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 66 65 68 67
268Matteo Manassero (Ita) 64 67 69 68
271Seung-yul Noh (Kor) 71 66 67 67
272Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 67 68 70 67, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 68 66 70 68, Oliver Wilson 68 68 67 69, Robert Coles 66 71 67 68
273Steve Webster 66 70 64 73, Marc Warren 69 69 68 67, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 65 67 75 66, Peter Lawrie72 69 63 69
274Anthony Wall 67 68 69 70, Brett Rumford (Aus) 70 70 70 64
275Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 70 68 66 71, Chris Wood 69 69 68 69, Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 69 68 71 67, Darren Clarke67 70 68 70, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 69 70 69 67, David Dixon 67 69 69 70, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 72 66 68 69, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 69 69 68 69
276Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 70 68 70 68, Keith Horne (Rsa) 68 69 71 68, Jamie Donaldson 68 68 73 67, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 69 69 65 73, Pablo Martin (Spa) 70 67 67 72
277Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 69 68 73 67, Mark Foster 74 65 69 69
278John Parry 70 68 67 73, Gareth Maybin69 71 68 70
279Martin Wiegele (Aut) 69 71 72 67, David Drysdale 66 70 70 73, Phillip Price 68 68 70 73, Tano Goya (Arg) 72 68 72 67, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 76 64 70 69, Graeme Storm 65 68 75 71
280Anders Hansen (Den) 68 67 74 71, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 68 68 72 72, Nino Bertasio (Ita) 70 68 66 76, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 71 69 70 70
281Gary Lockerbie 68 69 74 70, Danny Willett 70 69 78 64
282Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 73 68 70 71, Rick Kulacz (Aus) 66 72 68 76, Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 66 73 70 73, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 69 67 75 71, Adam Blyth (Aus) 71 70 66 75, Chinnarat Phadungsil (Tha) 72 67 70 73, Ross McGowan 68 73 69 72
283Markus Brier (Aut) 71 68 70 74, David Lynn 72 69 71 71, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 71 70 66 76
284Paul Waring 67 71 72 74, Julien Clement (Swi) 68 72 69 75, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 67 71 74 72, Sung Lee (Pkr) 74 67 73 70, Andrew Dodt (Aus) 71 69 75 69, Michael Hoey71 69 77 67
285Richard Bland 72 69 71 73, Angelo Que (Phi) 70 69 71 75, Simon Dyson 69 67 74 75
286Nick Dougherty 69 72 74 71, Fredrik Svanberg (Swi) 70 68 73 75
287Ben Leong (Mal) 69 71 73 74, Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 68 72 73 74, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 70 70 71 76, Alastair Forsyth 68 73 77 69, James Kamte (Rsa) 68 73 70 76
288Julien Quesne (Fra) 74 67 75 72
289Scott Strange (Aus) 68 70 75 76
WD:Soren Hansen (Den) 67 71 72