Profile / Editor / 23 April 2007 / Leave a Comment

For a man who didn't take up the game until the age of 15, Miguel Angel Jimenez has not made a bad job of establishing himself as one of the leading figures in Europe.

One of seven brothers, Jimenez spent his early teenage years as a caddie on Spain's Costa del Sol but his decision to concentrate on playing golf has paid dividends over the last 15 years.

A winner of 13 tournaments on the European Tour, the likeable 44-year-old is one of the most charismatic and recognisable figures in the world with his trademark ponytail, large cigar and penchant for red wine.

Jimenez first announced himself as a star of the future in 1994 when he finished fifth in the European Order of Merit and, after a couple of indifferent years, went one better in 1998 and 1999 by finishing fourth in the standings to earn his first Ryder Cup appearance.

The Spaniard enjoyed his best season to date in 2004 when four victories made him the European Tour's most prolific winner that year and he has shown signs of returning to that sort of form this season.

Jimenez has only played eight events so far this season but already has four top-ten finishes and will be anxious to do well in front of his home supporters at this week's Open de Espana, where he is trading at 18 to win and 4.2 to place in the first five in the developing markets.

The European Ryder Cup star has been careful to pick and choose his events so far in 2007 but his season is set to get into full swing now the tour has returned to mainland Europe for the summer.

Jimenez may well have slipped down to number 63 in the world rankings and only lie in 20th in the Order of Merit table at present, but he is ranked fourth in terms of scoring average so far in 2007 (70.25 shots per round) which should bode well for the coming months.

Jimenez has hit 75 per cent of greens in regulation this year and he clearly has no problems with his putting stroke as he tops the table for putts taken when hitting the green (1.69).

It could be an exciting next few months for 'The Mechanic' (named because of his love of driving), and he should also be included in the list of Europeans capable of ending their drought in the Majors.

It is sometimes overlooked that Jimenez was one of the players who finished joint second when Tiger Woods romped to his record 15-stroke victory at the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach, while he came in the top 20 at both the US Masters and US Open last year.