Don't mess with Jimenez

Don't mess with Jimenez

Miguel Angel Jimenez sat in the Formula 1 simulator at Kuala Lumpur's Glenmarie Golf and Country Club, his eyes trained on the screen, steering his virtual vehicle around the pixelated world of Malaysia's Sepang circuit. Wearing a cheeky grin, Team Europe's captain for the inaugural EurAsia Cup jumped out of his car and covered the eyes of his Asia counterpart, Thongchai Jaidee, as the Thai manoeuvred around the same course.

Known for his love of fine wines, fast cars and cigars, the larger-than-life Spaniard carries his greying ponytail and little potbelly with a carefree swagger and a ear-to-ear grin.

But, make no mistake, the 50-year-old is a fierce competitor - who happens to know the value of stopping to smell the roses.

"You think by drinking only wine and smoking cigars, you can be 50 years old and competing with these young guys? No chance," said Jimenez, who was flanked by teammates, 34-year-old Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell, Victor Dubuisson of France, 23, and fellow Spaniard, Pablo Larrazabal, who is 20 years his junior.

"I also work in the gym and work on myself. The main thing is that you have to enjoy what you are doing in your life and I love the game. I love to compete and (that's why) I'm here."

Sanctioned by both the Asian Tour and The European Tour, the EurAsia Cup is a biennial team match-play golf tournament pitting Europe against Asia, styled after the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.

The first day's play tomorrow will include five foursomes matches, followed by five fourball matches on Friday and 10 singles matches on Saturday at Glenmarie's Garden course.

It comes as no surprise that Jimenez's teammates have much respect for the man who has 20 European Tour victories as well as two Ryder Cup wins.

His successful defence of his Hong Kong Open crown last year saw him better his own record of being the oldest winner on the European Tour.

SKIING ACCIDENT

He won the title aged 49 years and 337 days - and that after recovering from a broken leg he suffered in a skiing accident in December 2012.

"Yeah, I will do my best this week. I hope I can win my matches and, to have Miguel as a captain, I think it will help me and I hope he can give me some good advice," said Dubuisson, throwing a reverential look across to Jimenez.

But Jimenez is quite the quandary in an era of fitness trainers, protein shakes and yoga. He will stretch before heading out onto the course, but he may also have a glass of wine before stepping out of the clubhouse.

He may study the greens with the meticulous eye of a watchmaker, but do not be surprised that once the putter returns to the bag, he walks away with a cigar in his mouth.

The Spaniard is a cool customer, as laid back as they come.

But his zest for enjoying life is intertwined with a streak of the steely competitor.

Jimenez's shenanigans at the F1 simulator came during the practice run but, once it was time for the race proper, his grin faded as he got back in the car and, in its place, emerged a steely glare.

But once the race ended - Jimenez beat Jaidee by three seconds - the grin, and the larger-than-life personality immediately sprung forth.

He jumped atop his car and, with fists pumping, he proclaimed: "Europe 1, Asia 0!"

One thing's for sure, don't mess around with the feisty Spaniard.

 

Keep up to date with the EurAsia Cup at www.eurasiacup.com, www.facebook.com/eurasiacupgolf and @EurAsiaCupGolf #EurAsiaCup2014.

 

TEAM ASIA

l Thongchai Jaidee (captain, Thailand), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand), Gaganjeet Bhullar (India), Nicholas Fung (Malaysia), Kim Hyung Sung (South Korea) Anirban Lahiri (India), Prayad Marksaeng (Thailand), Koumei Oda (Japan), Siddikur Rahman (Bangladesh), Hideto Tanihara (Japan).

TEAM EUROPE

l Miguel Angel Jimenez (captain, Spain), Thomas Bjorn (Denmark), Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Victor Dubuisson (France), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain), Stephen Gallacher (Scotland), Pablo Larrazabal (Spain), Joost Luiten (Holland), Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland), Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark).

 


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