Miguel Ángel Jiménez arrives in Phoenix with a clear mission and a dream in hand: to conquer the Charles Schwab Cup for the first time in his career, the title that crowns the best player of the year on the PGA Tour Champions. Among the 36 players competing in this grand final, there is only one Spaniard, and that is the man from Málaga, who at 61 years old is once again among the top five in the US senior circuit.
Phoenix Country Club will decide the champion of a season that has had it all. Jiménez, who has been at the top of the leaderboard for most of the calendar, is second in the overall standings with 3,150,248 points, just 96,714 behind the leader, New Zealander Steven Alker. In a final 72-hole playoff that distributes so many points, the difference is by no means insurmountable: to begin with, a victory would give him the title no matter what, without depending on anyone else.
Beyond Alker and Jiménez, three other players have mathematical chances: Stewart Cink, Ernie Els, and Thomas Bjørn. The reality is that the calculations are narrowing: only the top three seem to have real possibilities, while Els and Bjørn must win and hope for a multiple stroke of luck to reach the trophy.
If he wins the tournament, the “Pisha” would not only conquer the Charles Schwab Cup for the first time, but he would also become the first Spaniard in history to achieve it, a milestone for a player who has already left his mark in many corners of the golfing world.
However, the path is full of conditions. He starts with real chances, and the man from Málaga can begin to dream if he finishes at least tied for 14th place, and that’s only if Alker does not improve on a 34th place. Anything better than that result will bring Jiménez closer to glory, although every position counts and the margin for error is minimal. Alker will add at least 33,000 points, so Jiménez will need to be near perfect to surpass him. For example, if he finishes third alone, Alker would have to be fourth to avoid the overtaking and for the Spaniard not to take it (as long as Cink does not win the tournament).
Jiménez, on the other hand, partly depends on himself. His season has been solid, full of top 10 finishes and with the usual balance between experience, consistency, and a game that continues to be pure spectacle. Jiménez remains in the fight for everything.
Sunday could be historic. If the “Mechanic” finds his rhythm, lights up the cigar, and the irons respond, Spain could celebrate for the first time the most prestigious title in world senior golf.
