Jimenez ‘amazed’ to join Senior Open winners

MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ rekindled the spirit of the late Seve Ballesteros when he captured The Senior Open on the Old Course at St Andrews.

The flamboyant Spaniard (54) closed with a three-under 69 to win by a stroke from defending champion Bernhard Langer on 12-under par — 34 years after Ballesteros won the Claret Jug with that now famous 72nd hole birdie.

“It’s amazing to win here at St Andrews,” Jiménez (right) said. “It’s a place where so many people want to win and where Seve played so well in The Open. Now my name is part of history.

“There are no words to describe the feeling of holding the trophy on the 18th green.”

Langer (60) was bidding to win the title for a record fourth time, but a 68 left him one shot short at the venue where Ballesteros made his famous closing birdie to deny him and Tom Watson by two shots in 1984.

Ireland’s Paul McGinley came home in 40 and tied for 18th on two-under after a 75 with Des Smyth 64th on eight-over after a 74.

At the Porsche European Open in Hamburg, former Irish Amateur Open winner Richard McEvoy (39) birdied the last to claim his maiden European Tour win. The Englishman closed with a 73 to win by a shot from German amateur Allen John, Swede Christofer Blomstrand and Italian Renato Paratore on 11-under par.

Masters champion Patrick Reed faded to tied ninth after a 73, with Bryson DeChambeau a shot further back after a triple bogey eight at the 18th saw him shoot a disappointing 78.

On the Challenge Tour, the Netherlands’ Darius van Driel (29) claimed his maiden Challenge Tour win at the inaugural Euram Bank Open in Austria, closing with a threeunder 67 to win by a shot from Scotland’s unfortunate David Law on 17-under.

Dubliner Paul McBride picked up €846 after he shot a level par 70 to tie for 46th on three-under with Ardglass’ Cormac Sharvin tied 53rd on one-under after a 74 and Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy 64th on four-over after a 77.

Elsewhere, play was suspended due to lightning strikes midway through the final round of the PGA Tour’s RBC Canadian Open, with Dustin Johnson three clear on 20 under after making three birdies in his first eight holes.

Graeme McDowell was three under for the day and tied 14th on 13-under with two to play, while Shane Lowry lies a shot further back, one under for his round, after 14 holes.