Jimenez chasing double delight

Miguel Angel Jimenez can book his place in the Ryder Cup this weekend in the Algarve Open de Portugal.

Jimenez currently lies third in the qualifying table courtesy of wins in Majorca and Bangkok since the race started last year.

And a third victory at Penina tomorrow would, barring an improbable series of results, seal his berth in Bernhard Langer’s European team to defend the trophy in Michigan in September.

“The Ryder Cup is a target but it is a long-term target,” said Jimenez, who won two points at Brookline in 1999 and was Seve Ballesteros’ vice-captain at Valderrama in 1997. “You have to concentrate and live this moment.”

The Spaniard takes a one-shot lead into today’s third round, a second-round 66 giving him a nine under par halfway total of 135.

Compatriot Ignacio Garrido shares second with Ireland’s Damien McGrane and Australian Terry Price, with Ian Woosnam and first-round leader Peter Lawrie a shot further adrift.

Langer surprised many with his choice last week of Anders Forsbrand as his right-hand man, despite the Swede not having played in or even attended a Ryder Cup.

But Jimenez said: “Bernhard has his reasons, they know each other and he thinks he will be good support for himself and the players.

“The most important thing is to keep the players happy and motivated, and if they can do that it is perfect. I think they can do it.”

Woosnam, who matched Jimenez’s round of 66, is another Ryder Cup vice-captain and was in the frame to captain the side this year before Langer’s appointment.

The 46-year-old Welshman feared he was “too old and knackered,” to qualify for the team again after an opening 71, but 24 hours later had matched the best score of the week, just one outside the course record.

“I think I did my job (as vice-captain) with Sam and my job next will be to do the captaincy,” said Woosnam, who is using the event as preparation for next week’s US Masters.

“I don’t know when that will be, Ireland (2006) or Wales (2010) or America (2008), but hopefully I will get the chance to do it sometime in the future.”

He added: “I felt I was getting a bit old or unfit for this game. Perhaps I was out to prove something.

“I tried some different swing thoughts round the golf course and got it going. I want to win some money and get up that Order of Merit and get some confidence going.

“Obviously it is a warm up for Augusta, the only reason I didn’t play the Bellsouth Classic is that the course is a little too hilly for me and playing two weeks in a row on a hilly course I have to think of my fitness for the Masters.

“I want to win a tournament this year (his 30th on the European Tour) and try to get back in the top 50 in the world if I can.”