Jimenez to play at Gleneagles

Miguel Angel Jimenez has changed his mind and will now play this week’s Johnnie Walker Championship to try to secure a fourth Ryder Cup cap.

The 46-year-old Spaniard sent his manager Sarah Phillips a text message last night after Peter Hanson’s victory at the Czech Open knocked him down into the ninth and last automatic qualifying spot with one week left.

Jimenez had planned to be at his nephew’s wedding on Saturday, but it will now go ahead without him – unless, of course, he misses the halfway cut in Scotland.

The Dubai Desert Classic and French Open champion played with Hanson in the final round, but dropped from second to seventh with a disappointing 73.

By staying in the top 10, though, he became eligible for this week’s tournament without having to seek a sponsor’s invitation – as Hanson did last Monday.