"There is no secret. Good food, good wine, good cigars and some exercise!"
This is no ordinary mantra, but Miguel Angel Jiménez is no ordinary golfer.
There is a genuine affection for the man from Malaga that can be felt on a global scale. Whether he's teeing it up in Hong Kong or his native Spain, the feeling of glee upon seeing the pony-tailed veteran is palpable. You sense that is what made the golfing community embrace his groundbreaking victory in the 2014 Open de España with even more vigour.
Jiménez was playing in his 27th home Open when he got under way four years ago in May. The 50 year old started with a 69 to sit one back from Eddie Pepperell after 18 holes at PGA Catalunya Resort, level with Sergio Garcia, Rafa Cabrera Bello and an unheralded young Belgian named Thomas Pieters among others. A bogey-free round of three under put the 50 year old in the mix and was followed by a rather more challenging Friday 73.
After 36 holes, Jiménez was four behind Pieters, but climbed to within two of the rookie from Antwerp on Moving Day. On a challenging final day, in which there was only one sub-70 round, Jiménez came to the fore. Although Pieters' Sunday 75 helped, the Spaniard shot a 73 to finish level with Pieters and Richard Green on four under par.
Extra holes would be required.
Despite being 28 years Pieters' senior, Jiménez showed experience counts for a lot. He made a par on the first play-off hole, the par four 18th. Pieters and Green both blinked simultaneously, making bogey to inadvertently secure Jiménez's place in the history books.
Victory made him the oldest winner on the European Tour, aged 50 years and 133 days, beating the record he had set earlier in the season. His win six months previously at the UBS Hong Kong Open at the age of 49 years and 337 days was surpassed and so was the record for the oldest winner of the Open de España, set by Arnold Palmer; the American's win in 1975 came at the age of 45 years and 221 days.
Jiménez also moved to 25th in the Official World Golf Ranking, his highest position since the same tournament in 2011.
Although he hasn't won since that record-breaking afternoon four years ago, a superb final round 63 at this season's UBS Hong Kong Open showed Miguel still has it. Would you back against him breaking his own record for a second time?
