Miguel Ángel Jiménez, one of the biggest names in Spanish golf, joins Jon Rahm, Sergio García and Rafael Cabrera-Bello, to complete a quartet of superstars at the Open de España, having confirmed his presence at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid from 3 to 6 October.
The charismatic golfer from Malaga is returning to play his national tournament following an absence of three years. His participation, however, never goes unnoticed, thanks to his superb connection with the Spanish fans who, given his achievements throughout his outstanding career, objectively regard him as one of the best Spanish golfers of all time.
The last two times he played in it, he produced two sublime performances at the Open de España. In 2014 he was crowned champion at the PGA Catalunya Resort after coming through a thrilling playoff with the Australian Richard Green and Belgian player Thomas Pieters, both of whom he quickly saw off on the first hole of the playoff. One year later he finished second behind English player James Morrison at the RCG El Prat, where he often looked putting in a great performance to try to like he would successfully defend.
During his prolific career, Miguel Ángel Jiménez has picked up 21 European Tour titles and 7 Champions Tour titles in the US, as well as playing for team Europe in the 1999, 2004, 2008 and 2010 Ryder Cups, winning the second and fourth of these, experience that led to him being a vice captain on three occasions.
The player from Malaga also forms part of the select club of Spanish golfers whose names are inscribed on the base of the Open de España trophy, four this century: Sergio García (2002), Álvaro Quirós (2010), Miguel Ángel Jiménez himself (2014) and Jon Rahm (2018).
An impeccable career
Born in Churriana (Malaga) on 5 January 1964, Miguel Ángel Jiménez turned professional in 1982, his first participation on the European Tour coming at the Open de España in 1983 at Malaga course Las Brisas.
‘Pisha’, always a favourite with the fans, earned his European Tour card at the fourth time of asking at Qualifying School (1985, ‘86, ‘87, ‘88) and has been competing for over three decades, time in which he has entertained fans around the world with plenty of unforgettable moments.
His first European Tour victory came at the Piaget Open in Belgium in 1992 and, amazingly, 15 of his first 21 titles came after he turned 40. In Spain, he has won five times on the European Tour; the 1998 Turespaña Masters Open de Baleares, the 1999 Turespaña Masters Open de Andalucía, the 1999 Volvo Masters, the 2003 Turespaña Mallorca Classic and the 2014 Open de España.
Always entertaining and undeniably one of the biggest stars every year at the Open de España, Miguel Ángel Jiménez is admired around the world for the way he carries himself on the golf course.
Recently, during The Open at Royal Portrush in mid-July, Miguel Ángel Jiménez became only the second golfer in history to have played 700 tournaments on the European Tour. Previously, in 2018, he won The Senior Open, the first Spaniard to do so, just another of the countless records he has set in his exceptional career. Now fans can watch him in person as he seeks to set even more at the Open de España.
