Defending Alstom Open de France champion Miguel Angel Jiménez returns to Le Golf National this week hoping to prove he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
A three-time winner on the European Tour in 2010, Jiménez finished second to Lee Westwood in this year’s Ballantine’s Championship but has struggled to find his best form in recent weeks.
After missing the cut at the US Open Championship at Congressional Country Club, the 47-year-old Spaniard finished 39th in last week’s BMW International Open.
However, he remains confident he can challenge on the course where he triumphed over Alejandro Cañizares and Francesco Molinari in a play-off last year.
“I feel well. I still feel good,” said Jiménez. “I still hit the same distance as last year. I still feel motivation to play golf and that's what you need to be competitive with these new young guns.
“You need to do what you want to do in your life and that's what I do and I still enjoy myself on the golf course.
“Maybe not the last few weeks, my game is struggling a little bit, a little bit of a mess there, but I still want to go on the driving range, I still like to work with the ball, I still like to enjoy myself and keep playing on this level.”
If last year’s tournament is anything to go by, the closing holes can be expected to provide plenty of drama this weekend.
Jiménez led by two when he reached the 18th tee 12 months ago, only to then bogey the last and end up in a tense play-off.
Many feel the closing stretch at Le Golf National is ideally suited to The Ryder Cup, which will be held at this venue in 2018, but Jiménez said: “It's not only the finishing holes, it's all the golf course.
“Every single hole is very good. It's very well designed, and we have super conditions to play.
“On this golf course it's very important to have the ball on the fairway. Especially 15, 16, 17, 18, it's very important that you have the proper tactics.
“So (it is) a great golf course and it will be a great venue.”
While Jiménez is unlikely to be involved in the Ryder Cup in seven years time, he still retains hope of making the European Team for next year’s match at Medinah.
“For me it would be nice if I can play another one. But I understand that the time is going. I’m 47 now and next year I will be 48,” he said.
“But if I still am playing well and I still make the team, I will play, of course.”
