Miguel Angel Jimenez Highlights European Tour Return To Thailand
By Les Bailey
Jul 14, 2014; Wirral, GBR; Miguel Angel Jimenez (right) checks his notes on the 16th tee during a practice round at the 143rd Open Championship at The Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
Miguel Angel Jimenez, and the European Tour make the trip to Thailand this week for the inaugural playing of the True Thailand Classic Presented by Black Mountain. The event will tee off on Thursday at the beautiful Black Mountain Golf Club near the coastal city of Hua Hin. The European Tour hasn’t played in Thailand since 2007.
The 51 year-old Spaniard hasn’t been back to Thailand in over a decade, and won the 2004 Johnnie Walker Classic in his last golfing visit.
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"“I love playing in Asia,” said the 51 year old, who recently won on the Champions Tour in the USA. “When I saw that the Thailand Classic had been added to the European Tour schedule it was an event that I really wanted to play, and so I am excited to be back.“This is a beautiful country and I am very much looking forward to visiting Hua Hin for the first time. Thai people are so incredibly friendly, kind and respectful and are always smiling. The Thai food is unbelievable and I love to try traditional dishes in different local restaurants.”"
Jiminez has been a busy man since the 2015 season got underway, starting with a solo sixth place finish at the Nedbank Challenge back in December, and continuing with a T 42 finish at the Maybank Malaysian Open last week.
Asia is obviously a hugely important territory for The European Tour
And, Oh! by the way, the aging Spanish star jetted to Hawaii to beat Mark O’Meara during the Mitsubishi Electric Championship atHualalai and win the season opener on the PGA Champions Tour.
Jul 16, 2014; Wirral, GBR; Anirban Lahiri plays his tee shot to the 6th hole during a practice round at the 143rd Open Championship at The Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
Other top European Tour players heading to Black Mountain this week include last weeks winner in Malaysia, Anirban Lahiri, Spaniard, Alejandro Canizares, Swede Alex Noren, and the second highest ranked Thai player, Prom Meesawat.
Anirban Lahiri shot a ten under par 62 at Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, and when third-round leaders, Alejandro Canizaries, and Austrian, Bernd Wiesberger started going sideways, the 27 year-old from India picked up his first European Tour victory.
After his win in Malaysia, Lahiri was ranked 37th in the world, and will be the lowest ranking player in Thailand this week.
Alejandro Canizares started a comeback last year, by wining his first tournament in eight years at the Troph’ee Hasan II in Morocco, and finishing tied third place last week in Malaysia.
The 32 year-old Spaniard has three top twelve finishes in four starts this year, and was in the mix at the top of the leaderboard in Kuala Lumpur before a tough Sunday netted a third place finish.
Prom Meesawat overtook Kiradesch Aphibarnrat last December, and is the second highest ranked Thai player in the world rankings as this event gets underway.
"Meesawat finished third on the Asian Tour Order Of Merit last season thanks to a win and six other top ten finishes. Like Lahiri, Meesawat also finished tied third here last year at the Asian Tour’s Kings Cup, the last professional event hosted at Black Mountain Golf Club."
Also in the field this week, 43 year-old Ryder Cup star, Thomas Bjorn. Bjørn is excited to see why so many Scandinavian professionals use the venue for their winter practice.
"“There are a lot of European Tour players who have an association with Black Mountain, and the reports I have heard say that it is going to be a very strong venue, so I am looking forward to getting there and playing in the event,” said the 43 year old.“Winning around the world is what makes you a truly global player and I would love to add Thailand to the list of countries where I have won.“Asia is obviously a hugely important territory for The European Tour so it’s great that we are returning to Thailand for the first time since 2007 – it’s an amazing country.”"
The bigger names on the European Tour, especially one’s with PGA Tour affiliation, are making their way to either compete next week at the Northern Trust Open, or the following week at the Honda Classic, starting the Florida Swing on the PGA Tour.
That leaves a much weaker field in Thailand this week, but there are some great young players making a sanctioned start this week.
The True Thailand Classic will provide an opportunity for aging stars to gain some status on the Tour, and a host of young Asian Tour stars to pick up their first win.
Source and Quotes: EuropeanTour.com