Miguel Angel Jiménez is relishing returning to Thailand for the first time in more than a decade after confirming his participation in the inaugural Thailand Classic at Black Mountain Golf Club.
The last time the 51 year old was in the country he tasted victory in the 2004 Johnnie Walker Classic in Bangkok, and since then he has won 13 more times on The European Tour, earning legendary status for his continuing success around the world.
“I love playing in Asia,” said the Spaniard, who recently won on the Champions Tour in the USA. “I think the fact that I have won so many tournaments in this part of the world shows how much I enjoy competing here and when I saw that the Thailand Classic had been added to the European Tour tournament schedule it was an event that I really wanted to play, and so I am excited to be back.
“The last time I played a tournament there I won, so I have great memories of that. Since then I have not had the chance to compete or even take a holiday in Thailand. Our lives as professional golfers are so busy travelling across the world playing tournaments, so having a holiday is not something I have much of a chance to do very often, but I know this is a beautiful country and I am very much looking forward to visiting Hua Hin for the first time.
“The Thai people are so incredibly friendly, kind and respectful and are always smiling. The Thai food is unbelievable and I love to try traditional dishes in different local restaurants. I am always really interested in the local culture and I like to experience this as much as I can when I am not on the golf course.”
The Thailand Classic will be Jiménez’s fourth appearance of the season, having finished tied 20thin the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship before winning the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hawaii and then teeing it up in the Maybank Malaysian Open.
“My game is in good shape at the moment and I am playing well,” Jiménez added. “I am feeling confident on the course. I’ll continue to work on all parts of my game, spend a little time in the gym most days and then just enjoy competing, as I always do. And of course, enjoy a cigar or two each day.”
It will be The European Tour’s first visit to Thailand since the Johnnie Walker Classic in March 2007, when the Johnnie Walker Classic took place in Phuket, and Jiménez praised the development of golf in the country over the last few years.
“It’s amazing to see what an impact the top Thai players like my friend Thongchai Jaidee have made in the huge increase in the popularity of golf in Thailand,” he said. “This is evident in the number of new great courses being developed as well the wealth of talented Thai professionals in the top 200 best players in the world. These are very exciting times for golf in Thailand.”
