Jimenez all set for Johnnie Walker Championship
The Spanish golfer, Miguel Angel Jimenez has finally decided to take part in the Johnnie Walker Championship due this week in order to maintain his selection chances for the European Ryder cup team.
However, it is thought that his chances of winning the championship are negligible keeping in view the amount of stress he is going through these days and the quality of competition he is expected to face on the fields. With Peter Hanson winning the Czech open, Jimenez had finally thought that his chances of selection for the Ryder cup team are over. With this setback, he planned to attend his nephews wedding this week rather than playing in the penultimate event of the season but things again seem to be changing for him as he now has decided to continue playing. He would soon be flying to Gleneagles in order to confirm his spot in the European team headed by Colin Montgomerie. However, the worst of all is the fact that only one week remains in deciding the final team and if, Jimenez didn’t do anything fast then he surely will be counting on the Captain's wild card picks same as Luke Donald, Justin Ross, Padraig Harrington and Paul Casey are doing.
The 46-year-old was previously 8th in the European ranking which meant that he was playing safe and could continue with his family life that included a wedding due this Saturday. But now the Spaniard will no more be seen eating a cake at the wedding except if he fails to make a cut at Gleneagles. If Jimenez’s achievements this season are to be considered, he has won the Dubai Desert Classic and French Open while his performance at the Czech Open was quite disappointing even for the player himself as he wasn’t expecting a score of 73 in the tournament’s final round. This was the same round that flew Hanson into the Ryder cup team.
The only good news for him is that he can still make the cut into this week’s tournament without help from any sponsors. The irony for him lies in the fact that Hanson after winning the Czech open got into the event with a sponsor’s invitation. Experts are of the view that this is Jimenez’s last opportunity to play at the Celtic Manor this upcoming October. It is good that he made his mind at the right time although the danger has not elated from the scene and it is said that if Miguel Angel fails to win then this position will be over taken by Ross McGowan, Simon Dyson and Alvaro Quiros.
As for McGowan, he needs to get into the top 2 spots if he is to kick Jimenez off from the 9th place while the other two contenders need to win which means the probability of one of them being dropped out is very high. In such a situation, either an outclass game is expected or some pathetic gesture of anxiety. Whatsoever the case, only one player amongst them will be able to over throw Angel.
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