Miguel Angel Jiménez of Spain and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee have announced they will be competing at this year’s US$900,000 Venetian Macao Open at the Macao Golf and Country Club from October 23-26, 2014.
The two venerated stars of the game recently captained their respective continents to a dramatic tie at the inaugural EurAsia Cup in Malaysia earlier this year, with Thongchai dragging Team Asia back from the brink of defeat to claim an extraordinary draw against Miguel’s men on the final hole of the match.
Jiménez and Jaidee are both multiple winners on the European and Asian Tours with an incredible 36 titles between them. The Tour veterans are showing no signs slowing down with both having won already this year. In May, Jiménez claimed his national Open, the Open de España for the first time in 27 attempts, in the process breaking his own record as the oldest ever winner on the European Tour at 50 years and 133 days. Not to be outdone, Thongchai clinching his second European Tour title at the Nordea Masters in June, fending off EurAsia Cup foes Victor Dubuisson and Stephen Gallacher in a play-off.
Jiménez is no stranger to golf fans in Asia and enjoys an almost cult following thanks to his love of fast cars and fine Rioja. ‘The Mechanic’, as he is also known, is a four time winner of the Hong Kong Open (2004, 2007, 2012 and 2013). Despite being a familiar face in the region, he will be making his debut in Macao this year;
“I love playing in Asia and I’ve enjoyed great success in the region. I am really excited about coming to Macao and playing the event for the first time. I have heard a lot of great reviews of the tournament from my fellow pros, how much fun the city is and how beautiful the course is. It is time for me to experience it all first hand and I’m really looking forward to it.”
“It is going to be very competitive,’ continued Jiménez, who is currently ranked 27th in the world. “There is a great field of international and Asian golfers assembled, not to mention old friends like Thongchai and Ernie. I really look forward to playing with Thongchai again. He is one of the best players in Asia and it is always enjoyable to play alongside players like him. ”
Six years Jiménez’s junior, at a sprightly 44, Thongchai currently ranks 33rd in the world and is a three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner (2001, 2004 and 2009) with 13 Asian Tour wins on his CV since he turned professional in 1999.
“The Venetian Macao Open is one of the most popular events on the Asian Tour and I really enjoyed myself here,” said Thongchai, who finished 16th last year. “Macao is a great place to come and play golf. Fantastic city, picturesque golf course and a competitive field. I am excited that Miguel will be joining the field this year. We shared an incredible experience at the EurAsia Cup and after the draw, I’m certainly keen to come out on top in this tournament! I am sure he will enjoy it and come back next year like Ernie has.”
The Venetian Macao Open is jointly organised by Macao Sport Development Board of Macao SAR Government (MSDB) and Golf Association of Macao. It is sanctioned by both the Asian Tour and the Golf Association of Macao, and promoted by IMG. The VenetianMacao is the title sponsor of the event for a third successive year.
Entry to the Venetian Macao Open is free so golf fans from around the region can enjoy live, world class golf by Els and many leading Asian Tour players, in one of the best loved destinations for leisure and entertainment travel in Asia.
Since its inauguration in 1998, the tournament has been graced by the presence of some of the best golfers the world has ever seen, including Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Padraig Harrington, Fred Couples, Ian Woosnam and Mark O’Meara. This year’s event boasts a total prize fund of US$900,000, an increase of 12.5% compared to last year.
Sponsors joining The Venetian Macao in support of the tournament include Rolex, Srixon, Air Macao, Blue Girl, Bonaqua, Lamborghini and Hong Kong Descente, which carries both the Le Coq Sportif Golf Collection and Munsingwear.
For more details on the Venetian Macao Open, please visit www.thevenetianmacauopen.com
