Golf Algarve Open de Portugal: Miguel Angel Jimenez went to the top of the European Ryder Cup table and the tour money-list yesterday after winning the Algarve Open de Portugal by two strokes from Australian Terry Price.
A closing five-under-par 67 for a 16-under-par 272 total gave Jimenez a victory that has virtually sealed his Ryder Cup place at Oakland Hills, Michigan, in September. It is some consolation for missing next week's US Masters.
The 40-year-old was disqualified in the Qatar Masters last month after signing for a wrong score and that effectively cost him a place in the world top-50 for Augusta.
Jimenez, the leader here from the second round on, was put under pressure by 43-year-old Price, whose 64 equalled the course record set earlier in the day by Swede Robert Karlsson.
The Spaniard was up to the task though, and a closing birdie, his sixth of the round, spelt a comfortable success.
It was his second win of the season and his third in six months. In February, he won the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand and he claimed the Mallorca Classic in October.
In a tournament which saw a strong Irish challenge throughout, Graeme McDowell finished best of his compatriots in tied-third position after a closing 67 left him on 13-under-par. He collected €70,375 for his efforts, his best finish on tour since he captured the Scandinavian Masters in his rookie year.
Damien McGrane shot a final round 69 for tied-ninth on 11-under, which was worth €22,160, while Peter Lawrie, who led after Thursday's first round, was a shot further back after a final round 71. He won €15,678.
Philip Walton was unable to make a move over the weekend, closing with a pair of 71s to finish tied 59th to win €3,312. He was joined on that mark by Gary Murphy.
Jimenez was philosophical about his disappointment in missing out on Augusta.
"You have to take life as it comes - what has happened now and not Qatar," the Spaniard said. "Going to the Masters would have been good, but now I've won and I can enjoy it at home.
"I knew I needed birdies to avoid a play-off because I saw Terry Price was 14-under. I was always nice and calm.
"The Ryder Cup was a long-term goal and I will love to be there because it is amazing. The sensations you feel are something very special."
Jimenez has moved from fourth to top the European Ryder Cup points list, passing the one-million mark with 1,027,946 points.
He briefly overtook Padraig Harrington on top of the world points list, although the Irishman was certain to regain his lead after the close of the BellSouth Classic and relegate the Spaniard to second place.
After also moving up from fourth spot to top the European money list, Jimenez added: "It is a nice ambition to win the order of merit also, but you have to live life for the moment and this moment is winning the Portuguese Open."
Price, who returned to the European Tour last year after losing his card for six years, earned his best European finish despite still suffering a niggling neck injury.
The highlight was a stunning four-iron approach on the final hole, which left a mere two-footer for an eagle.
The Queenslander won the New Zealand Open at the start of this year's Australasian Tour season.
FinalScores
(Irish in bold, Brit unless stated)
272 - MA Jimenez (Spa) 69 66 70 67 (£139,147).
274 - T Price (Aus) 68 68 74 64 (£92,760).
275 - K Eriksson (Swe) 71 72 65 67, Graeme McDowell 69 70 69 67 (£47,005 each).
276 - I Garrido (Spa) 69 67 69 71, D Lynn 71 68 66 71, D Park 70 71 66 69, J-F Remesy (Fra) 70 68 70 68 (£27,635 each).
277 - F Andersson Hed (Swe) 71 70 67 69, D Botes (RSA) 70 70 69 68, E Canonica (Ita) 71 67 70 69, P Eales 71 69 69 68, G Havret (Fra) 67 72 68 70, JM Lara (Spa) 68 74 66 69, Damien McGrane 70 66 72 69.
278 - F Delamontagne (Fra) 74 68 70 66, R-J Derksen (Neth) 71 71 71 65, R Karlsson (Swe) 69 70 75 64, Peter Lawrie 66 71 70 71, M Roe 70 69 69 70, M Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 74 69 66 69, S Walker 68 71 71 68.
279 - G Canizares (Spa) 67 75 70 67, N Dougherty 72 68 73 66, S Fernandez (Arg) 72 71 69 67, S Hansen (Den) 73 69 69 68, J Sandelin (Swe) 67 71 76 65, P Sjoland (Swe) 70 69 71 69, J Spence 71 72 70 66.
280 - A Oldcorn 71 71 69 69, B Lane 68 71 71 70, G Emerson 69 71 70 70, N Colsaerts (Bel) 67 71 70 72, M Cort 69 69 70 72, J Elson 73 70 69 68.
281 - I Woosnam 71 66 71 73, JM Arruti (Spa) 68 71 70 72, S Dodd 67 73 68 73, B Dredge 72 70 68 71, J Mellor 71 70 70 70, R Sterne (RSA) 74 67 70 70, M Lemesurier 60 71 70 71, R McEvoy 71 69 75 66.
282 - MA Martin (Spa) 68 74 72 68, JM Carriles (Spa) 71 70 73 68, K Ferrie 69 72 70 71, J Clement (Swi) 70 69 72 71, G Orr 70 73 70 69, M Jonzon (Swe) 75 68 69 70, L Oosthuizen (RSA) 72 66 75 69.
283 - S Webster 72 66 72 73, C Gane 70 72 74 67, J Haeggman (Swe) 71 72 71 69, D Borrego (Spa) 74 68 70 71, S Khan 73 68 72 70, D Carter 74 68 69 72, C Hanell (Swe) 67 73 70 73, D Dixon 71 72 68 72.
284 - Philip Walton 68 74 71 71, Gary Murphy 69 72 72 71, P Broadhurst 75 68 73 68, P Baker 71 70 76 67, R Russell 71 71 65 77, S Jeppesen (Swe) 72 71 72 69.
285 - F Roca (Spa) 73 68 74 70, M Ilonen (Fin) 71 70 72 72.
286 - A McLean 72 68 78 68.
287 - D Gilford 72 70 68 77, M Lafeber (Neth) 68 74 71 74, A Raitt 67 73 67 89.
289 - N Fritz (US) 70 73 72 74.
293 - R Ballesteros (Spa) 70 69 76 78, S Osborne (am) 72 70 73 78.
299 - R Rock 71 72 76 80.
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