Miguel Angel Jiménez has been named Asprey & Garrrad Golfer of the Month for October on the eve of the World Golf Championships – American Express Championship starting at Valderrama.
Jiménez, who earns a 1,400 euro (£1,000) charity donation for The Golf Foundation, was unanimously voted the Asprey & Garrard Golfer of the Month by representatives from the Association of Golf Writers, the BBC, BBC Five Live and The Golf Channel.
In the month of October Jiménez linked with Sergio Garcia and José Maria Olazábal to win the Alfred Dunhill Cup for Spain then shot a 19 under par tournament record low score of 269 to win the Volvo Masters at Montecastillo.
Steve Rider, representing the BBC, said: “The panel was unanimous in naming Miguel Angel the winner following a superb month during which he continued an outstanding year of world-class performances. It was also pointed out that he now has a unique opportunity to win three events in Andalucia this year having also won the Turespaña Masters – Open Andalucia in March and as he is playing in the American Express Championship this week.”
Colin Montgomerie, winner of the Cisco World Match Play Championship, Thomas Björn and Robert Karlsson, winners of The Sarazen World Open and Belgacom Open respectively, provided competition to Jiménez as did Retief Goosen, who tied for second in both the Belgacom Open and Volvo Masters, and Stephen Gallacher. A brave finish earned Gallacher tenth place in The Sarazen World Open and a place in the Belgacom Open in which he closed with scores of 66 and 68 to tie for sixth. In two tournaments he moved from 122nd to 102nd in the Volvo Order of Merit to guarantee his playing privileges for 2000. David Davies, Golf Correspondent of The Guardian, said: “It was a hugely creditable performance under intense pressure which fully deserves being recorded."
Colin Montgomerie (May and September) and Jiménez (March and October) have each won two Asprey & Garrard Golfer of the Month Awards in 1999. The other winners were Ernie Els (January), David Howell (February), José Maria Olazábal (April), David Park (June), Paul Lawrie (July) and Sergio Garcia (August).
