Hong Kong Open - Through the Years

2012

Making only two bogeys all week, Miguel Angel Jiménez held off the challenge of a rejuvenated Fredrik Andersson Hed to win by just one shot at an event that through up plenty of surprises along the way.

Jiménez aside, the veterans flourished at Fanling, with New Zealand’s Michael Campbell and Zhang Lian-wei of China featuring on the leader board for most of the tournament before falling back on an enthralling final day. But it was the form of world number one Rory McIlroy that raised more than a few eyebrows. The defending champion opened up with a poor 73 and, despite a bright start to his second round, went into freefall on the back nine to miss the cut. Twenty-four hours later, McIlroy was sunning himself on a Dubai beach with his then tennis-star girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki.

Not that Jiménez cared about any of that. With his trade mark cigar in hand, the Spaniard was effusive when asked about his remarkable longevity. “This is maybe the olive oil in my joints, and the nice Rioja wine and those things that keep you fit and flexible,” he beamed.