GOING LOW
Lowest scores in Masters history shot by players 50 years or older:
Golfer; Age; Score, year
Ben Hogan; 54; 66, 1967
Fred Couples; 50; 66, 2010
Miguel Angel Jimenez; 50; 66, 2014
The world’s most interesting golfer, as Miguel Angel Jimenez has been nicknamed, on Saturday shot one of the more interesting rounds at this year’s Masters.
Jimenez rang up seven birdies against one bogey to post the low round of the tournament, a 6-under 66, to move to 3 under and onto the leaderboard heading into Sunday’s final round at Augusta National. He tied the lowest score shot at the Masters by a player 50 years or older.
“Minus-6, you cannot complain,” he said.
The only complaint he may have is he doesn’t count a major as one of his 20 wins since turning pro in 1982. He has come close, tying for second at the U.S. Open in 2000 and tying for third at the British Open in 2001. He has three top-10 finishes in 14 previous Masters.
He is tied for fifth, two shots behind the leaders, going into the final round. Should he win, he would supplant Jack Nicklaus, who won the last of his six Masters in 1986 at the age of 46, as the tournament’s oldest champ.
Jimenez said winning a major is all about patience, and that’s what he tried to maintain Saturday. On Friday, when he shot a 76, he said he lost his focus.
“You want to see the things happen, the birdies coming, before you hit the shot,” he said. “Today is very patient, just commit to every hole, shot by shot, and that’s what happened.”
An interesting answer from an interesting man, one of several he gave after his round.
If he wins here, Jimenez said he will make his Champions Tour debut at next week’s Greater Gwinnett Championship. He said he wouldn’t play on that tour again until the Senior British Open.
Instead, he will continue to play the regular tours against younger competition because he wants to qualify for this year’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. Jimenez currently is 13th on the European points list.
“I know I have a chance to play the Ryder Cup, and I would love to play the Ryder Cup,” he said.
Jimenez earned his nickname because of his looks — he resembles the character from the beer commercials — and his penchant for wine and cigars. But he’s most known for his odd workout routine, one much mocked by commentators and imitated by patrons.
And once Jimenez starts you can’t look away.
Instead of traditional stretches, Jimenez goes through a series of movements that resemble Elaine Benes’ infamous dance on the TV show “Seinfeld.” Jimenez, with his slight paunch and square shoulders, focuses on loosening his joints. He raises his arms and squats like he’s saluting the golfing gods. He follows that by putting his knees together and moving them in circles one way and then the next. And on and on and on he goes, doing something unusual with each body part.
“Sometimes I’m looking at myself on video, and I’m laughing, too,” he said. “But you know what is the main thing? I never get injured.”
Jimenez was asked about the hyper-focused exercise routines that the younger generation of golfers seem to be doing.
With the wisdom of his 50 years, Jimenez gave an answer that supported his reputation: Exercise, but don’t overdo it.
“The main thing is enjoy yourself, enjoy what you’re doing, to not get injured, and smile, because you can’t forget to smile on the golf course,” he said.
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