Super Senior

Serious Fun

Last time, my feature with Jimenez was headlined ‘Serious Fun’ as beneath the showy cigars, fine wines and fast cars lurks a deceptively serious competitor. His longevity at the top of the game proves just how serious. As does his answer to my question about the post-Gleneagles party last year. “The party was fine. Always the party is fine, but that is the end - that is only a little part of the week,” he says putting it all in perspective. “The joy is what happens all through the week. People concentrate on the party when you drink and dance and so on, but you enjoy yourself on the golf course when you’ve got your clubs in your hands, your opponent is there and you want to get that point for your team. That is what the spirit of the Ryder Cup is really. But the party is fine too - the party is good!” As we draw to a close, my colleague Neil Tappin steps in with one final request, which endorses the Jimenez philosophy of serious fun. On this particular trip, we’ve brought with us a seven-year-old’s driver to see how well the pros can hit it. Jimenez has a few waggles, and lets rip. It carries 188 yards. “Only 188 yards?” he says three times, refusing to believe the electronic display, even though it puts him in 3rd place among all the tour youngsters. He demands another go, but this time doesn’t strike it well. “I hit it a little underneath and it’s not going anywhere,” he bemoans.

Where others have persevered and persevered until they really catch one, he simply hands us back the club. For Jimenez, this fleeting fun distraction is over, and now it’s back to the serious business of preparing for an important tournament that he fully believes he is more than capable of winning at 51 years of age. Serious fun, indeed.