Two of the European Tour’s most charismatic stars, Spain’s Miguel Angel Jiménez and France’s Victor Dubuisson, are hoping to make a big impression when they make their debuts in the second edition of the Shenzhen International, which gets underway at Genzon Golf Club on Thursday.
The star duo will line up alongside the likes of two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and rising Chinese star Li Hao-tong, who 12 months ago lost in a play-off for the title to Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
“It’s my first time to this event but I’m very familiar with playing in the region, and I love playing here,” said the cigar-smoking, pony-tailed Jiménez, who has flourished in nearby Hong Kong over the years, winning four times.
“Shenzhen and Hong Kong are both exciting and dynamic cities, so I am very comfortable being here and look forward to playing in front of the Chinese fans.”
Jiménez divides his playing time between the US Champions Tour and the European Tour, and enters the Shenzhen International with form on his side. The 52 year old tasted success earlier this month at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, thanks to a brilliant final round 64.
“The golf ball doesn’t know how old I am, and it still seems to be listening to me,” said Jiménez, who has notched 21 wins on the European Tour since he turned professional in 1982. “I love competing against the younger players, and maybe this week I’ll be able to show them a thing or two.”
Dubuisson, who turns 26 on Friday, has only played five events this season, but is more than capable of celebrating his birthday with a first victory on Chinese soil.
“I’m looking forward to getting started,” said Dubuisson, who starred for Europe at the Ryder Cup two years ago at Gleneagles. “Coming to play in Asia is always a great experience, and to play a new tournament for me is exciting. The field is very strong, which is important. To test yourself you need to play against the best players in the game.”
Dubuisson believes that the challenging layout at Genzon Golf Club suits his game, which bodes well for the Frenchman, who is looking for his first tournament win since the 2015 Turkish Airlines Open.
“I really like what I see,” added Dubuisson. “You need to be accurate off the tee and have a strong iron game, which is what I like in a golf course. I’ve been playing well, although my results probably haven’t reflected that. But I feel good and I’m really up for the challenge this week.”
