Miguel Ángel Jiménez has achieved victory in the PGA Tour Champions. It doesn’t matter when you read this because the man from Málaga has been getting us used to winning, winning, and winning again for eleven years now. The golfer from Churriana triumphed this Sunday at the Hoag Classic, the fifth tournament of the PGA Tour Champions season, held at the Newport Beach Country Club in California. It is his second win of the year after the Hassan II Trophy in Morocco, and he is now first in the Charles Schwab Cup, the ranking of the American senior circuit.
Jiménez started this Sunday as the co-leader of the tournament, tied with Fred Couples, who was playing at home as he resides in the Newport Beach area. There were also other contenders like Freddie Jacobson, the third member of the star group, as well as Stewart Cink, Michael Allen, Ernie Els, and Steven Alker, who were looking to surprise from behind. It was a tremendous battle that wasn’t resolved until the last moment.
Jiménez managed to control the situation but couldn’t pull away. His long game was brilliant once again, but above all, he gave a lesson in short game. If there was a main reason for his victory this Sunday in California, it was his golf around the green. His recovery on the 10th hole for par was legendary. He finished it off with two birdies on the 15th and 18th holes, both par 5s, thanks to two simply delightful chips. Among other things, due to this short game, Jiménez completed the three rounds with only two bogeys, both on the first day. He went 37 holes without making a mistake.
Precisely, Miguel took a one-shot lead in the tournament with the birdie on the 15th. He was one ahead of Jacobson. However, the Swede, with a great shot on the 16th, managed to tie again at the top. Meanwhile, behind them, Stewart Cink also caught up and finished his performance with a -14 on his scorecard, exactly the score Jiménez and Jacobson had with two holes to go.
Both had birdie chances on the 17th, although Miguel’s was clearer. His shot with the 6-iron on this par 3 was fabulous. The birdie putt didn’t go in, and everything was decided on the 18th. Jacobson and Jiménez hit two very good drives to the fairway. The man from Málaga was just a tad shorter and hit the green first. He nailed the shot, left it at the front of the green, and put all the pressure on Jacobson. The Nordic player missed his second shot. It went to the left rough and ended up in a bad spot. He put it on the green with his third as best as he could, but left himself an eight-meter birdie putt. Meanwhile, Miguel worked his magic again and left it a foot away. Sensational.
Win No. 2 in 2025 🏆🏆
The winning moment for Miguel! pic.twitter.com/DYodlGW8G8
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) March 23, 2025
Jacobson couldn’t make the birdie putt, and the victory went to Málaga, to Churriana. The most classic celebration awaited, sheathing the putter like a sword and raising his arm with the cap in hand to greet the crowd. One of many. It is his 15th victory in the PGA Tour Champions. He ranks as the eighteenth in the history of this circuit with the most wins. And counting.
Inexhaustible. Eternal Miguel. His dream of winning the Charles Schwab Cup (because Jiménez, believe it or not, is still dreaming wide awake) is more alive than ever. And at 61 years old. Take that.
