Miguel Angel Jiménez wins UBS Hong Kong Open

Miguel Angel Jimenez wins Hong Kong Open (Getty Images)

published 18 November 2012

Spain's Miguel Angel Jiménez beat Fredrik Andersson Hed of Sweden by a single shot to claim the UBS Hong Kong Open and become the oldest winner in the history of the European Tour.

The 48-year-old fired an excellent closing round 65 to stay one clear of the Swede and collect his 19th European Tour title - the 12th he's picked up since turning 40. He is now the oldest winner of a European Tour event, taking over from Des Smyth who was six months younger than Jiménez when he won the 2001 Madeira Islands Open. This was the third time Jiménez has won the Hong Kong Open.

"It's very nice, I hope it's not the last one," he said. "I really love this place. I love the golf course - it's a great golf course where you have to control the ball very well, it's not a matter of distance."

Fredrik Andersson Hed made a great final day charge with three early birdies then three more just after the turn. He had a 12-foot birdie putt on the last that would have tied Jimenez but it narrowly missed.

"It was a pity I couldn't make the putt," he said. "But it always feels good to finish second in a golf tournament; you know you've done something good."

Australia's Marcus Fraser finished with a 64 to end the week in third place. Stephen Gallacher of Scotland shared fourth with Italy's Matteo Manassero and Peter Lawrie of Ireland. A cheque for €66,411 was enough to seal Lawrie's place in the DP World Championship in Dubai.

Andrew Dodt looks to have secured his playing rights for the 2013 season with a superb closing nine of 33. He lifted himself into a tie for 37th and managed to climb from 122nd to 117th on the money list.

There wasn't such good news for Rhys Davies and Gary Boyd. They will now definitely have to head back to Qualifying School next week.

UBS Hong Kong Open Hong Kong GC, Fanling, Hong Kong Nov 15-18, purse €1,576,000, par 70

1 Miguel Angel Jiménez (Esp) 65 67 68 65 265 €260,638 2 Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 66 66 70 64 266 €173,759 3 Marcus Fraser (Aus) 67 69 68 64 268 €97,897 T4 Stephen Gallacher (Sco) 68 68 68 65 269 €66,411 T4 Peter Lawrie (Irl) 68 68 67 66 269 €66,411 T4 Matteo Manassero (Ita) 67 70 64 68 269 €66,411 7 Matt Kuchar (USA) 69 69 66 67 271 €46,915 T8 Michael Campbell (NZ) 67 64 69 72 272 €37,063 T8 Pablo Larrazabal (Esp) 69 70 65 68 272 €37,063

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

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Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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