Bjorn takes it on chin as Jimenez sneaks in

IT did not hurt anywhere near as much as the British Open last year, but it still pained Thomas Bjorn yesterday as he let a dramatic Johnnie Walker Classic in Bangkok slip from his grasp.

The 32-year-old Dane, leader after each of the first three rounds, was still one in front with five holes to play, but then carved two drives into water on par fives and took bogey sixes at each of them.

Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, 40 last month, was the grateful recipient, recording a two-stroke victory worth £166,660 his second win since Ryder Cup qualifying started in September.

The other came in Majorca four months ago when Jose Maria Olazabal dropped three shots in the last two holes and as he started his latest celebrations he said: "You always feel sorry for the one behind."

Last July Bjorn led the Open at Sandwich by three with four to play, but bogeyed the 15th, double-bogeyed the 16th by needing three attempts to get out of a greenside bunker and bogeyed the 17th. He lost by one to unknown American Ben Curtis.

A week later he lost a play-off in the Irish Open to Michael Campbell and today said: "I am good at dealing with disappointments. I play golf to win and in the last 16 months I've let quite a few slip through my hands.

"Fortunately I've had a win in there (the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Japan in November), so I know I can do it."

Bjorn, involved in a bust-up with Colin Montgomerie on Friday, lost nearly a stone in the heat and humidity during the week, but he certainly did not mind losing to the 40-year-old from Malaga.

He described Jimenez's front-nine 31 as "magnificent out of this world" and added: "Come September, as tough as he is, he will be a good guy to have on the team."

Jimenez, vice-captain to Seve Ballesteros in 1997, made his debut two years later, lost his place in the last side, but now leads Europe's world points list from which the first five automatic places for Oakland Hills will come.

Like last week's winner, Marcel Siem, he wears his hair in a ponytail as, of course, does Australian Open tennis champion Roger Federer.

Jimenez grew his hair and restored its natural gingery colour two years ago "to be a little different" and a skin problem behind an ear meant there was a health reason for keeping it long. He eventually had a benign growth removed.

"The Ryder Cup is a target, but my principal one is to play the best I can every week," he added. "September is September and we are in February. You have to concentrate round by round."

His brilliant front nine took him two clear, but two bogeys in the next three enabled Bjorn to go ahead again when he pitched to three feet on the 13th.

But then came the splashes and when Jimenez made a 25-foot birdie putt on the 17th the gap was two again.

His closing par gave him a 68 and 17-under-par aggregate of 271, Bjorn having to settle for a share of second with Indian Jyoti Randhawa, who had a best-of-the-day 64.

Scotland's Simon Yates, based near the Thai capital and not even a member of the European tour, was joint fourth in a group which also contained US PGA champion Shaun Micheel.

Defending champion Ernie Els finished with five successive birdies, but still could do no better than joint 10th Ian Poulter was on the same mark while Nick Faldo and Montgomerie, both round in 69, shared 13th.

Faldo said: "I'm really pleased. I played really well, had a good mental focus and learnt some things about my swing."