HONG KONG — Miguel Angel Jimenez won the Hong Kong Open for the fourth time Sunday after winning a three-way playoff on the first hole to secure the victory. Jimenez, 49, defended the title he won last year and became the oldest player to win on the European Tour after sinking an 18-foot birdie on the first playoff hole to beat Thailand's Prom Meesawat and Stuart Manley of Wales. “It just gets better and better. I love Hong Kong and this course,” said Jimenez, who extended his record as the oldest player to win on the European Tour to 49 years and 337 days. It was also his 20th career win on the European Tour, bringing the Spaniard to within one of Scotland's Sam Torrance. After the final round, all three players finished on 12-under 268. Jimenez's experience held him in good stead in the playoff as the Spaniard held his nerve to drive his approach shot at the tricky par-4 410-yard 18 on to the green. Manley had sliced his shot on to a corporate box roof while Meesawat's approach fell just short of the green. Both missed their birdie putts but Jimenez made no mistake as he coolly knocked in the winning shot that earned him the victory. Jimenez fourth Hong Kong Open title matched the record held by Taiwan's Hsieh Yong Yo, who won the tournament in 1963, ‘64, ‘75 and ‘78. Woods stays two ahead Tiger Woods stayed on track for his sixth victory of the year as he maintained a two-shot lead after a brutally difficult day for scoring at the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge Saturday. The American world No. 1 ground out a level-par 72 in blustery winds with several tough pin positions at Sherwood Country Club to end the third round of the tournament which he hosts at 11-under 205. In glorious late afternoon sunshine after a rainy start to the day, Woods rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-four last to retain control of an event he has won a record five times. Compatriot Zach Johnson, the first-round leader, was alone in second place after sinking an 18-foot birdie putt at the last for a 72. Bubba Watson, the 2012 Masters champion, was a further two strokes back at seven under, after a 69. Only four players in the elite field of 18 dipped under par for the day, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy the best of them with a six-birdie 68 that left him a distant 13 shots off the pace. Woods, two shots in front overnight after equaling his own course record with a stunning second-round 62, made a confident start Saturday, two-putting for birdie at the par-five second to maintain that advantage. However, he bogeyed the fourth after taking a penalty drop when his tee shot ended up in a hazard and the par-three eighth after missing the green to the left off the tee to drop back into a tie for the lead with Johnson. Johnson briefly moved ahead after sinking a six-foot putt to birdie the par-four ninth but Woods immediately responded, draining a 12-footer for birdie at the 10th to get back to 11 under. Just two holes later, Woods was handed a three-stroke advantage as Johnson, who had bogeyed the par-five 11th after hitting into trees, found a plugged lie in a greenside bunker at the par-three 12th on the way to a double. Woods surprisingly three-putted from only six feet to bogey the par-five 13th, then three-putted from long range for a bogey at the short 15th as his lead was cut to one shot. However, Woods recovered with a two-putt birdie at the par-five 16th, narrowly missing his eagle attempt from 15 feet, to forge two strokes clear. Though Johnson rammed in his long putt on the 18th green to get to nine under, Woods followed him with his 12-footer to retain a two-shot advantage. Bjorn soars to Nedbank victory A pair of eagles saw Denmark's Thomas Bjorn pull away from his challengers to win the $1.25-million first prize at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City Sunday with a 20-under-par total of 268. Bjorn sank the eagles at the 10th and 14th for a final round seven-under-par 65 and a two-stroke victory, shrugging off a spirited challenge from Spaniard Sergio Garcia and overnight leader Jamie Donaldson of Wales. Donaldson, who hit 70, and Garcia, with a 65, ended joint second with 18-under-par totals of 270 at the Gary Player Country Club. The 42-year-old Bjorn had been three behind Donaldson while Garcia started the last round five off the pace but surged into contention with six birdies in his outward nine.— Agencies
