Shanghai, May 17: Miguel Angel Jimenez roared to victory yesterday in the Asian Open, shooting a near-flawless round of 67 to claim a three-stroke win and USD 250,000 in prize money.
Showing the methodical approach behind his nickname "The Mechanic," Jimenez steadily reduced a six-stroke gap with third-round leader Simon Dyson, collecting three birdies in the front nine before pulling away with an eagle on the 13th hole.
"I tried to be very aggressive today," said the 40-year-old Spaniard, who finished the tournament at 14 under. "If i play like this, I can do anything."
Dyson, who collected six birdies in the rain on Saturday - including a run of five straight - saw his putter go cold under clear skies yesterday. He bogeyed the first hole after hitting his tee shot into the rough and never seemed to recover, posting five bogeys in the round to finish three back with a 76.
Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng seized the lead from Dyson on the 10th hole and notched up five birdies. But he was unable to keep up the pressure, bogeying on 13, 14, 16 and 17 to finish third at 10 under with 71 for the round.



Jimenez started with a pair of birdies, then bogeyed the fourth before recovering to birdie on seven. He birdied the 10th, then picked up the eagle on 13 before bogeying on 17 and sinking a 10 foot (3 meter) birdie putt on the 18th.



It was Jimenez's third win on the European Tour this year, placing him firmly in the ranks of the world top 50.


Bureau Report