Jimenez breaks age barrier

Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez planted three precise kisses on the trophy in wiping Des Smyth’s name from Tour records by capturing a third UBS Hong Kong Open in eight years.

Jimenez, at age 48 years and 318 days surpassed Smyth’s record of 48 years and 34 days in capturing the 2001 Maderia Islands Open and becoming the oldest winner in European Tour history. The Spaniard, affectionately known as ‘The Mechanic’, celebrated in now traditional style with a glass of Rioja and a cigar after carding a final round 65 to win by a stroke on 15-under par from Sweden’s Fredrik Andersson Head (64).

Just as delighted was Peter Lawrie, who rather than jetting out of Hong Kong and bound via Dubai for Dublin, will now get off the plane with Jimenez in the UAE for this weeks’ final Race to Dubai event, the DP World Tour Championship.