Miguel Angel Jiménez named Golfer of the Month for November
Miguel Angel Jiménez was named Golfer of the Month for November following his historic victory at the UBS Hong Kong Open.
Miguel Angel Jiménez has been named The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month for November after his performance in a record-breaking victory at the UBS Hong Kong Open.
While adding to the titles he won at Fanling in 2005 and 2008 with a one stroke win over Sweden's Fredrik Andersson Hed, the Spaniard made history by becoming the oldest winner in European Tour history at 48 years and 318 days. The previous record was held by Irishman Des Smyth, who at 48 years and 34 days won the 2001 Madeira Islands Open.
Jiménez played a superb final round of golf, shooting a 65 to steal the victory, his 19th on the European Tour on his 597th appearance.
The award was not easily won as The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month Panel, made up of members of the Association of Golf Writers as well as commentators from television and radio, faced a tough decision.
Among Jiménez's competition included Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, whose victory in the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai solidified his place as European Number One; Englishman Ian Poulter, who won his second World Golf Championship in style at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China; and Italian Matteo Manassero, who became the first teenager in European Tour history to win three times following his triumph in the Barclays Singapore Open. All three earned votes from the panel.
Luke Donald, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, and Henrik Stenson were also recognised for their outstanding play during the month, but in the end, it was Jiménez who ultimately came out on top.
"When you look at the list of candidates for the November award it not only illustrates how hard a decision it was to make, but also just how healthy European Tour golf is at the moment," said Michael Harris, the editor of Golf Monthly and a member of the nine-strong panel.
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"Every single one of them had a legitimate claim but in the end Miguel Angel Jiménez proved just too hard to resist. To win a tournament on the European Tour, given the growing standard out there, is hard enough at the best of times, but to do it at almost 49 years of age is remarkable.
"But Miguel is just that, remarkable. He is an entertainer and has such an infectious love of life and golf that I know a lot of people have been inspired to take up the game just by watching the fun he has on the course. His win in Hong Kong against a high-quality field was fantastic and, as a result, he is a worthy winner of the award for November."
Jiménez joins Branden Grace (January), Paul Lawrie (February), Rory McIlroy (March and August), Louis Oosthuizen (April), Luke Donald (May), Jamie Donaldson (June), Ernie Els (July), Ian Poulter (September) and Peter Hanson (October) as the other winners of the Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month Awards. All ten will be considered for The 2012 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year Award, which will be announced later this month.
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