Miguel Angel Jimenez - The Everlasting Mechanic

If nothing else, Miguel Angel Jimenez has epitomised all that represents golf, both as a competitor and a lover of life. At 55, he takes his success from the main European Tour to now the PGA Champions Tour.

- Benny Teo

GV: You’ve been a member of four Ryder Cup teams, two of those winning sides, a vice captain twice. Do you have aspirations to lead the European team as captain?

JIMENEZ: No, not any longer. I had the most incredible experiences as part of those Ryder Cup teams and certainly for a long time, I really wanted the opportunity to be captain of the European Team, but sadly it was not to be and I know now that my chance has passed. The Captain needs to be involved in the European Tour in the years leading up to the Ryder Cup, playing with the potential team members, mixing with them on a regular basis, creating a chemistry with the players. Now that I am spending most of my season on the PGA Tour Champions, I don’t have the chance to do this, so I know that this possibility has gone.

Congratulations on your victory last year at the Seniors Open at St Andrews. Given the history of that place and it being your second Major win, it must have been an emotional victory for you?

Thank you. Yes, it was an amazing week and very emotional of course. Everyone wants to win a Major at the Home of Golf and so to win the Senior Open on the first occasion it was held at St Andrews was so special.

And a good celebration afterwards?

Of course! It was nice to have some of my family and friends with me that week and for them to all enjoy the experience. After the presentations, we went back to the hotel and a big group of us had a nice dinner, a few bottles of great Spanish wine, a few whiskies and one or two cigars. But we were not too late, as I had a very early alarm call for my flight on Monday back to Malaga.