The Celtic Manor Wales Open 2008 - Jimenez Returns
JIMENEZ BIDS TO REGAIN CELTIC MANOR CROWN
Spanish ace returns to scene of great victory
Former winner Miguel Angel Jiménez will bid to reclaim The Celtic Manor Wales Open title after confirming his name as one of the latest entries into next week’s tournament.
Jiménez completes a strongest ever field at Celtic Manor where Padraig Harrington, the reigning Open champion following his heroics at Carnoustie last summer, will make his debut in the event from May 29-June 1.
Jiménez won the tournament on his first appearance in 2005 thanks to some nerveless putting in his stunning final round of 62 which swept the popular Spaniard to a four-stroke victory. It was his 14th title on The European Tour and, following two fruitless years, Jiménez captured a 15th tournament victory earlier this season at the UBS Hong Kong Open.
He will hope to continue his good form on his return to South Wales and press his claims for a third Ryder Cup cap following appearances for Europe at Brookline in 1999 and at Oakland Hills in 2004.
Jiménez and Harrington will face stiff competition for a record £300,000 first prize from a host of other players in the world’s top 50, including Swedish Ryder Cup player Niclas Fasth, rising German star Martin Kaymer and the two most recent winners of The Celtic Manor Wales Open, Richard Sterne and Robert Karlsson.
There are also no fewer than six players from the last European Ryder Cup team teeing off at Celtic Manor, the venue for the next match in Europe in 2010. Joining Harrington and Karlsson are their 2006 team-mates from The K Club, Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and David Howell.
Players hungry to break into the team for this September’s match at Valhalla and competing for valuable Ryder Cup points at Celtic Manor next week include Nick Dougherty, Graeme McDowell and the in-form Richard Finch, who landed his second win of the season at the weekend’s Irish Open.
Celtic Manor Wales Open Tournament Director Dylan Matthews said: “We are delighted that Miguel Angel Jiménez has decided to return to The Celtic Manor Wales Open.
“He was a very popular champion in 2005 with his superb golf, his big cigars and his even broader smile. He is one of the game’s true characters and I’m sure he will be another great draw for the galleries this year.
“Miguel’s inclusion is the icing on the cake of our strongest ever field here at Celtic Manor. It looks like the players are very anxious to get their first look at the new Twenty Ten course and I’m sure the crowds will want to do the same next week.”
Tickets for all four days of The Celtic Manor Wales Open are available on the gate.