Confident Jimenez targets Ryder Cup spot

Miguel Angel Jimenez has revealed he is likely to be one of Paul McGinley’s vice-captains for the Ryder Cup — but only if he does not fulfil his ambition to play at Gleneagles instead.

Jimenez celebrated his 50th birthday on Sunday by travelling to Durban for this week’s Volvo Golf Champions, an event for which he qualified by defending his Hong Kong Open title in December.

That play-off victory not only gave Jimenez his 20th European Tour win but also extended his own record as the oldest winner in Tour history and gave him a genuine chance to become Europe’s oldest Ryder Cup player as well; Ted Ray was 50 years, two months and five days old at the inaugural contest in 1927.