REWIND: Jiménez makes history with Hong Kong hat-trick

Miguel Angel Jiménez became the oldest winner in European Tour history as the Spaniard produced a masterclass in approach play to capture the UBS Hong Kong Open for the third time.<br /><br />A five under par round of 65, which might have been even lower had his putter got going, gave him a 15 under par total at Hong Kong Golf Club and one shot victory over Fredrik Andersson Hed.<br /><br />Six months older than Des Smyth was when he won the 2001 Madeira Islands Open, the victory was Jiménez’ 19th on The European Tour and 12th since turning 40 – two of which also came in Fanling in 2005 and 2008.<br /><br />“It’s very nice - I hope it’s not the last one,” joked the Spaniard, who was an assistant Captain at The Ryder Cup in Medinah.<br /><br />“I really love this place. I love the golf course – it’s a great golf course where you have to control the ball very well, it’s not a matter of distance.”<br /><br />Jiménez went to the turn in a brilliant four under par 30 despite not holing a putt longer than eight feet – the highlight a brilliant five wood approach to two feet at the ninth.<br /><br />He then sunk a 12 footer at the tenth, and parred his way in for victory having not carded a single bogey over the last three rounds.<br /><br />Asked about the secret of his longevity Jiménez, responded: “This is maybe the olive oil in my joints, and the nice Rioja wine and those things keep you fit and flexible.<br /><br />“The most important thing, I do what I like to do in my life, and golf has given me all of this pleasure. Winning now, at 48, my goodness - 24 years I've been on the Tour.<br /><br />“I still love it and I think that is fantastic, to love what you're doing, and enjoy yourself, keep fit, keep working myself a little bit and stretching a lot, and that's the main thing to do to compete with the new guns."<br /><br />The 40 year old Andersson Hed, who made 14 trips to Qualifying School before winning his first European Tour title in Italy two years ago, birdied the second, two-putted the long third, then hit a fine approach to three feet at the next in an early charge.<br /><br />He then had a hat-trick of birdies from the 11th and 12th, but a 12 foot birdie putt at the last lipped out in what proved to be a decisive moment.

“I don't think I've ever played better than I did today under pressure,” he said. “There were a couple of loose shots on 15 and 16 that I got away with and made pars and then unfortunately couldn't get the birdies in on 17 and 18. It always feels good to finish second in a golf tournament; you know you've done something good.<br /><br />“It's a pity I couldn't get one of the putts on the last two holes to put a little bit more pressure on him on the last hole. He did fantastic, though, with a perfect tee shot, the perfect second shot and easy two-putt, so all credit to Miguel.”<br /><br />Australian Marcus Fraser came third and joint fourth were Ireland's Peter Lawrie – sealing his place at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai in the process – Scot Stephen Gallacher and 19 year old Italian Matteo Manassero, last week's Barclays Singapore Open champion.<br /><br />New Zealander Michael Campbell, joint overnight leader with Jiménez, fell away to joint eighth.<br /><br />In the race for places on The 2013 European Tour International Schedule, Australian Andrew Dodt produced a remarkable comeback to keep his hopes alive.<br /><br />Five over par at the turn, the former Avantha Masters winner looked unlikely to climb from 122nd in The Race to Dubai into the all-important top 119.<br /><br />He came home in a three under 33, however, and a tie for 37th saw him edge ahead of Richard Bland, Tjaart Van Der Weld, Rhys Davies and Gary Boyd to 117th.<br /><br />While Dodt looks safe, Bland and Van Der Weld face a nervous afternoon to see if Tommy Fleetwood and Tano Goya can earn enough at the SA Open Championship to edge them out.<br /><br />And former winner Davies and England’s Boyd now join the likes of Bradley Dredge, Shiv Kapur, Oliver Wilson and Christian Nilsson in returning to Qualifying School next week.

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