After breaking his leg in a skiing accident in December, Miguel Angel Jimenez could have been forgiven for slowing down his career and riding off into the sunset as he approaches his half-century. But the 49-year-old has enjoyed a stunning comeback throughout the summer this year, with strong performances at the Open and PGA Championships; alongside top five finishes at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, and last week in the Omega European Masters at his beloved Crans-sur-Sierre. He has continued that form into this week, and he leads the KLM Open after an opening round of 64 at the superb Kennemer Golf and Country Club.
Kennemer is among the highest rated courses on continental Europe, and it has provided a fantastic test for the players in the event that dates back to 1912. The Dutch Open has been a constant part of the European Tour’s schedule, since the circuit’s establishment in 1972, and possesses a rich history. Another seemingly constant part of the Tour is that cigar smoking Spaniard, Jimenez, who found this excellent old course to his liking on Thursday.
The oldest winner in the history of the European Tour birdied three of his first four holes, before dropping a shot on the sixth as the weather conditions deteriorated. He completed his front-nine in 33, before dropping another shot at the 10th. However, it was from here that Jimenez would surge through the field and reach the summit of the leaderboard, as he birdied four of his final seven holes, including the 18th, to complete a six-under round of 64 in the sunshine.
“When the sun came out I started to play my best golf,” said Jimenez. “Holing my wedge shot from 40 metres on the 16th was very nice, then the birdie on the last was a great way to finish. I’m very happy.”
The optimum conditions for this layout would be when it is playing firm and fast, but it was still a challenge that Jimenez enjoyed, and he’s hopeful that the evening sunshine that appeared is here to stay for the remainder of the tournament.
”It’s a nice course and it’s in great condition, so I enjoyed my day very much. It’s maybe not playing as firm as it normally would, because of all the wet weather we’ve had. But hopefully we can get a bit more sun and it will dry out over the next few days.”
Coming off his fourth placed finish in Switzerland, Jimenez is in excellent form, and he is hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of his legendary compatriots who claimed victory in the Netherlands in years gone by.
”I played very well last week, so I expected to play well again here. Seve’s first win on The European Tour was here in 1976, and José María also won here in 1989, so hopefully I can win here too. That would be fantastic.”
Last year, Jimenez became the Tour’s oldest winner in Hong Kong, but the popular and fun-loving Spaniard is hopeful that such results will continue to occur for the foreseeable future.
”I love to kick the young boys’ butts! I look after myself. People know I love to smoke cigars and drink nice wines, but I also work out and I keep myself very fit, because you have to. I love my job and I love my life, so hopefully I can keep it going for a few years yet.”
Also loving life on Thursday were an international collection of players that was comprised of Jimenez’s countryman Pablo Larrazabal, Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti, Ireland’s Damien McGrane, Scotland’s Gary Orr, England’s David Howell and Australian veteran Robert Allenby, who are all tied in second.
For Zanotti and Orr, this week can now present an opportunity for the two players to secure their status on the Tour next year, with them at 152nd and 234th on the Race to Dubai respectively. The 30-year-old Paraguayan, Zanotti, has just four events to finish inside the top 110.
“I played well here a few years ago, so I like Holland,” said Zanotti. “Always you have good memories, so you try to remember the good results and good places. Sometimes you get to those places and just play good golf, and that’s the case with me here.”
It was also a good day for Damien McGrane, who all-but ensured of his status on the Tour a couple of weeks ago in Wales. However, the tenacious Irishman is hopeful that this start could be the foundation to potential a second victory on the European Tour.
“I’m delighted, because I played lovely from start to finish,” said the 42 year old. “The course is in fantastic shape, and the weather was somewhat kinder this morning.
”All in all it was a very pleasing day, and definitely gives me a nice platform to build on over the next few days.”
81 players are all within six shots of the lead, with many of them also surely viewing their opening day’s work as a solid platform for the three days ahead in the Netherlands.