St Andrews Magazine Edition 04

After playing host to 29
editions of The Open
and 2 RICOH Women’s
British Opens, the Old
Course finally added
The Senior Open to its
resume of the world’s
greatest
championships at the
end of a hot and dry
summer on the East
Coast of Scotland.
A burned and crispy
links saw legends of the
game battle for the
Senior Claret Jug this
July, and they did not
disappoint.
Defending champion
Bernhard Langer, 3-
time champion Tom
Watson, former Open
Champion Tom
Lehman and the likes
of Colin Montgomerie
and Vijay Singh all
featured prominently in
the final Senior Major of
2018.
But it was a Spaniard
who walked away with
the title, showing
vintage form to collect
his second senior major
and sixth win on the
PGA Tour Champions.
Miguel Angel Jimenez
shot a final round of 69
to hold off a stern
challenge from
defending champion
Bernhard Langer.
Starting the final round
with a two-shot lead
and playing a course
which was vastly
different to the start of
the week after heavy
weekend rain, Jimenez
got off to a flying start
with birdie at the first
hole.
It was a start which was
needed as Langer
surged into a tie for the
lead with four birdies in
the first six holes.
Jimenez regained the
lead with a birdie at
the ninth and following
a tense back nine it
was the Spaniard who
prevailed.
His victory harked back
to the bygone days of
Seve in 1984, also
holding off Bernhard
Langer for victory, and
to the 1999 and 2000
editions of the Alfred
Dunhill Cup, won by
Spanish teams
including Jimenez.
Miguel was
understandably elated
at winning at the home
of golf, “This is one of
my biggest victories,”
said Jiménez. “It’s
amazing to win here.
This is my second Major
of the year, and it’s
amazing to be the
winner of The Senior
Open here at St
Andrews, the Home of
Golf.
“There are no words to
describe the feeling of
holding the trophy on
the 18th green. To have
that trophy in my hand
in front of the crowd
and my friends, and my
family is amazing.
As in 1984 the
tournament hinged on
a moment at the 17 th
hole, and Jimenez
made a 12-foot par
putt to retain the lead
heading to the 72 nd
tee. “That putt on 17
was very important to
stay one shot in the
lead,” added Jiménez.
“It was amazing
walking down the
middle of the 18th
fairway, and the only
thing I needed to do
was put the ball in the
middle of the green
and make two putts.”
The significance of the
victory was not lost on
the former European
Ryder Cup star, “It’s
amazing to win here at
St Andrews, the Home
of Golf. It’s a place
where so many people
want to win and where
Seve played so well in
The Open. Now my
name is part of history.”
Whatever the
tournament, whenever
the time, a win on the
Old Course at St
Andrews is as
significant as any title in
any player’s career.