Jimenez gathers pace ahead of Ryder Cup

MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ insisted he would not allow thoughts of the Ryder Cup get in the way of him winning his fifth tournament this year with the Omega European Masters.

The Spaniard won the BMW International Open last Sunday and kept the momentum going to card an opening round six-under-par 65 at the Crans-sur-Sierre course in the Swiss mountains to lead going into day two.

The 40-year-old from Malaga illustrated how crucial he is to Europe’s bid to retain the Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills this month by establishing an early four-shot lead over reigning champion Ernie Els, who was attempting to make history.

The South African has shown so many times in the past that he should never be written off, and Jimenez cannot afford to look ahead.

“I don’t care at the moment even for the Ryder Cup,” he said.

“I care for the Omega European Masters as we are here. I am enjoying myself here and I don’t want to be looking to the future.”

Pre-tournament favourite Els was bidding to emulate Seve Ballesteros, who defended the European Masters title over a quarter of a century ago.

But the ‘Big Easy’ found himself two-over-par at the turn having started on the back nine, bogeying the par-fourth 10th and par-three 13th.

However, he turned things round quickly and birdied four of the next seven and despite bogeying the eighth, finished with another birdie.

But while Jimenez and fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia might be Ryder Cup team-mates, they could be rivals for glory this week after Garcia shot a five-under-par 66 to sit just a stroke behind.

The 24-year-old grabbed seven birdies - and did not let two bogeys trouble him too much.

Garcia is hoping Jimenez keeps his form flowing until the Ryder Cup.

Garcia, who has opted to miss the German Masters next week, insisted: “He is playing well and looking forward to playing at the Ryder Cup and hopefully he will keep playing like that.

“Hopefully he will take a nice rest and get ready. The Ryder Cup takes a lot out of you and you don’t want to be tired.”

Garcia joined Frenchman Marc Farry on five-under-par and they shared second place with Swede Peter Hedblom and England’s Peter Baker.

Another Ryder Cup man high up the leaderboard was wild card Luke Donald.