DEFENDING CHAMPION MIGUEL Angel Jimenez has a lot of work to do if he is to clinch a record-equalling fourth Hong Kong Open with Ireland’s David Higgins leading after the opening round.
The Spanish veteran signed for a level par 70, one shot better than China’s teenage prodigy Guan Tianlang but six strokes behind the early leader Higgins.
Higgins’ 64 leaves him one shot clear of Italy’s Andrea Pavan going into Friday’s second round. Seven players were tied in third on four under, including Thailand’s Prom Meesawat.
I played well tee-to-green, holed some lovely putts and had some chip-ins as well,” the Kerry golfer said.
Jimenez, 49, put together a mixed round, which saw four bogeys cancel out four birdies while 15-year-old Guan collapsed to a one-over-par 71 after a blistering start which saw him hold the lead for much of the morning’s play.
“There’s a long way to go,” a disappointed Jimenez said after taking three putts for bogey on the last hole.
“I hit it very well, apart from missing a couple of fairways. It’s very difficult to put the ball close from the semi-rough because it flies.
“I had a few birdies, but it wasn’t enough. I need to hole more putts and I’ll be happy.”
Jimenez was the pre-tournament favourite to win the $1.3 million co-sanctioned European Tour and Asian Tour event due to being the highest-ranked player at 48 in the world to be competing.
A lack of big names means the Spaniard has a great chance to break his own record, set last year, as the oldest winner on the European Tour and to match Hsieh Yung-yo of Taiwan’s four wins in the southern Chinese city.
But he got his title defence off to a poor start with a bogey at the second before bouncing back immediately with birdies at the third and fourth.
