Evergreen Jimenez, 56, Leads In Record Bid
Umer Jamshaid Published July 11, 2020 | 12:00 AM
Vienna, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Jul, 2020 ) :Veteran Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez rolled back the years on Friday to claim a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Austrian Open, as the 56-year-old looks to shatter his own record as the European Tour's oldest winner.
Jimenez grabbed the headlines at the first European Tour event, co-sanctioned with the second-tier Challenge Tour, following a four-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The world number 687, playing just his second European Tour competition of the year as he usually competes on the senior circuits, carded a seven-under-par second round of 65 to reach 11-under for the tournament.
He leads a group of five players -- Dutchman Joost Luiten, Scots Marc Warren and Craig Howie, Italy's Renato Paratore and German Nicolai von Dellingshausen -- by two strokes.
"I'm playing very well," Jimenez, who has spent the last four months in the Dominican Republic, told europeantour.com.
"It feels great. Four months without competing, it's nice getting back into a tournament and feeling the tension again.
"I was excited to get back. I miss the competition. I can't remember the last time I had four months holidays." He is already the oldest ever winner on the European Tour, setting the current record when he won the 2014 Spanish Open, his 21st Tour title, aged 50 years and 133 days.
That was the third time he had broken the record, having originally set a new mark aged 48 at the 2012 Hong Kong Open before successfully defending that title the following year.
The oldest victor on either of the two major tours was American great Sam Snead, aged 52 when he won the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open on the PGA Tour.
Jimenez looked to be feeling the pressure late on Friday as he bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes when poised to threaten the course record of 63, but he quickly bounced back with a closing birdie to ensure he remained in pole position heading into the weekend.
He first played on the European Tour in 1988.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
14 hours ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
5 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
5 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
5 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
8 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
11 days ago
-
DC, DPO Haripur inspect bus terminals to review fares compliance
12 days ago -
Second phase of refugees’ repatriation to start after Eidul Fitr vacations
13 days ago -
Reaping bounties as Ramazan culminates
13 days ago -
Digital transformation – a boon or bane
13 days ago -
Plants’ business: Another casualty of climate change
15 days ago -
Eid shoppers prioritize children’s joy over personal comforts
15 days ago