SHAW TOURNEY TEES OFF
Corey Pavin of the United States hits a shot Friday from the third fairway during the first round of the shaw charity classic at canyon meadows golf and country club. The tournament, with us$2.35 million up for grabs, continues through Sunday.
This is a man of many talents.
Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez had just signed his opening-round scorecard — a darn good one, too — at the 2018 Shaw Charity Classic and was sauntering back toward the clubhouse when a youngster asked if he’d autograph one of the inflatable golf balls being handed out in the HGS KidZone at Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club.
In a playful mood despite a three-putt for par on his final hole, the colourful co-leader stopped, showed off his soccer skills by juggling the inflatable a few times with his feet, then scribbled his signature for the boy and continued on his way.
Another fan for a guy who has plenty of them.
He is, after all, nicknamed ‘The Most Interesting Man in Golf.’
“What doesn’t impress you about that man?” was the reply from fellow birdie-machine Kirk Triplett when asked later about Jimenez. “He’s a golfer in the truest sense of the word, right? He’s not pulling out some picture-postcard swing. He’s found a way to hit the ball, and strikes it beautifully. You know that age old saying … ‘It’s not about the swing, it’s about the strike.’
“I mean, he puts as good a strike on it as anybody out here, and he does it with panache. He’s cool to watch. And tough to beat.”
No disrespect to Triplett, currently tied for the lead, but Jimenez is the guy to beat this week.
The cigar-smoking crowd-pleaser fired a 6-under 64 in Friday’s first round of the Shaw Charity Classic, racking up seven birdies, draining an eagle on No. 11 and also carding three bogeys.
Afterward, as he’s done several times in years past, Jimenez donned an apron and cooked up prawns for sponsors and some of his hungry cohorts.
The 53-year-old seems to have sorted out the recipe for success.
He’s been the class of the PGA Tour Champions so far this season, winning a pair of senior majors — the Regions Tradition and then the British Senior Open at St. Andrews — and arriving in Calgary as the top-cheese in the Charles Schwab Cup race.
Jimenez also has his name on the wall at Canyon Meadows, where he equalled the course record with a rip of 9-under 61 in 2015.
When he circled five birdies through his first six assignments Friday, it seemed he might threaten that mark.
“I feel confident,” Jimenez said. “I’ve been playing well. All year, I’ve been hitting the ball very well and the result is there, you know?
“I’m happy the way I played (Friday) and the way I hit it, and I like the golf course … I feel comfortable here. It’s nice.”
It’s always nice to see your name atop the leaderboard.
Jimenez is splitting that cushy perch with the 56-year-old Triplett, who was bogey-free Friday until giving back one stroke with a stumble on No. 17.
“The game seemed to be real easy for about 14 holes,” said Triplett, a six-time winner among the 50plus crowd. “And then I hit a poor shot off a downhill lie on No. 15, and it was like somebody switched my game off. I really struggled the last four holes, but overall, thrilled with it.”
Jimenez and Triplett are currently two shots clear of the competition.
Rod Spittle of St. Catharines, Ont., who will retire after Sunday ’s final round, is tied for third after shooting a 4-under 66. Joe Durant and Esteban Toledo also shaved four strokes off par on their first lap at Canyon Meadows.
Defending champion Scott McCarron opened with a 3-under 67.
Backed by a crew of family and friends in matching red shirts, Calgary ’s Steve Blake was even-par in his Shaw Charity Classic debut. A member at Hamptons Golf Club, Blake is the hometown fave.
Jimenez might be the overall fan favourite, and he certainly didn’t disappoint on this day.
“To shoot as low as possible, that’s what I try to do,” he shrugged. “I try to hit at all the flags. My putts, always they are nice and aggressive. That’s the way I try to play.”
What doesn’t impress you about that man? He’s a golfer in the truest sense of the word, right?