Jimenez's sizzling 62 too hot for all the rest

Wales Open: Spanish Ryder Cup stalwart Miguel Angel Jimenez fired a course record-equalling 62 to win the Wales Open at Celtic Manor yesterday, his second title of the season, and his sixth in 16 months.

Jimenez, who was five under par for the last six holes, posted a 14-under total of 262, four strokes ahead of compatriot Jose Manuel Lara, who shot 66, and Sweden's Martin Erlandsson, who came through the field with a closing 63.

Beginning the final round a stroke behind overnight leader Alessandro Tadini of Italy, Jimenez showed little sign of what was to come as he struggled early in the round.

After a bogey on the second, he found himself three off the pace after a flying start from English man Oliver Wilson, who birdied five holes in a row from the second to take the lead.

But as Wilson faltered with a double bogey on the ninth, Jimenez was beginning to find his form and picked up three birdies before the turn to get back into contention.

A birdie on the 13th gave him a share of the lead and he went in front for the first time with another from six feet on the 14th.

A play-off still looked a distinct possibility, however, until the Spaniard smashed a three-wood 253 yards on to the green on the 529-yard 16th and holed the eagle putt from 40 feet.

This ensured a runaway success, to add to his victory in the Hong Kong Open in December.

Ireland's Gary Murphy shot a final round 67 to finish on one-under-par 275, the same total as Paul McGinley, who ended with a 68. Peter Lawrie's final round 69 left him on one-over 277.

Jimenez, who collected 250,000 for his 13th European Tour success, said the key to victory was his putting.

"To win you obviously have to hole some putts and that's what gave me my momentum," Jimenez said.

"The putt on the 16th was about 40ft and I just tried to control the pace. The green had a little hump in the middle and I just tried to make a solid putt and the ball dropped in the hole. I was delighted to make an eagle."

"After I'd bogeyed the second I said to my caddie we had to get going and I got the putter working. I hope I keep in the same mood for the US Open," he added, referring to the second major of the year.

Victory took Jimenez to seventh on the European money list and he will move up from 22nd in the world rankings.

Tadini, who led after the second and third rounds, stayed on top of the leaderboard to the turn after two birdies going out, but the Italian, in only his second season on full Tour, wilted over the back nine.

Bogeys on the 15th and 17th left him in a share of fourth place, five behind Jimenez, level with Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin.

Erlandsson, whose previous best finish was a share of 13th in last year's Italian Open, earned €130,000 and will not have to return to the qualifying school.

"I am still shaking," said Erlandsson who carded seven birdies and one bogey.

"I just went for it today and had something going on there. It was fantastic."

The Swede's elation was in stark contrast to the dejection of Erropean Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam, who fell away after an indifferent day with his putter.

Woosnam had beguthe final round only a stroke off the lead and moved to a share of top spot by chipping in for a birdie at the first.

However, the putts refused to drop and he finished six strokes adrift of Jimenez.

"I am going away now and chucking the clubs away for a few weeks," he said. "I might chuck them away altogether. I am close to it. If my putting doesn't improve, they are going in the bag forever," said the 47-year-old, without a strokeplay title since 1997.

"I'm cheesed off with it. I missed a four-footer for birdie on the fourth and missed from 14 inches on the sixth.

"I started off playing beautifully but when I missed that 14-incher it just put so much pressure on me and I just lost it a bit.

"I was just hoping the round was over and I could get out of here. Over the years the putting seems to have gone and it is annoying. I have to hit it so close all the time to get anywhere and I put so much pressure on myself all the time."

Jimenez, who will travel to Pinehurst full of confidence, said: "I hope I hit the ball like that. I'm looking forward to having a rest this week with my family and then fly out on Sunday."