the Game or Life, Pro Golfer Miguel Ángel Jiménez Touts Joy. ‘Forget the Result.’
Known for his ever-present cigar and the occasional dance step after sinking a long putt, the 60-year-old native of Mâlaga, Spain, brings a good vibes to any event he plays
Known for his ever-present smoldering cigar and the occasional mambo step after sinking a long putt, the 60-year-old native of Mâlaga, Spain, brings a wink, a smile, and sense of occasion to any event he plays. Though Jiménez never won an event on the PGA Tour, he played on two victorious Ryder Cup teams and, so far, has claimed 41 individual wins around the world on other circuits, including 13 on the PGA Tour Champions (formerly the Senior PGA Tour and the Champions Tour).
When not competing or sharing his wit and wisdom at events, the Spaniard, also known as the Mechanic (for his love of classic cars), now calls the Dominican Republic home. He chose to plant his flagstick at the new St. Regis Cap Cana luxury community. This new venue became one of the most expensive branded real estate developments in the history of the Dominican Republic with residences ranging from US$1 million to US$25 million.
Lighting up a Cohiba between tournament stops, Jiménez took a little time to look back over his career and his decision to settle in Cap Cana.
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Penta: You’re known throughout golf for bringing entertainment, fun, and a little attitude to the events you play. Where does that energy come from?
Miquel Ángel Jiménez: I hide nothing of myself. I am an open book with everything I do. If I have a glass of wine, if I smoke a cigar, if I want to express my emotions on a golf course, it’s just the way I am. I think people like me for that because I act like a normal guy out there.
Looking back to your childhood in Spain, who was instrumental in teaching you the game of golf?
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That was my brother, Juan. I was in school—16 years old. I needed to work while I was a student, so I started working as a caddie with my brother. He was my first teacher in the game.
When did you start to get a sense that you had a gift for golf?
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After I finished my military service in Spain, I realized I had more knowledge about the game of golf, about the players, about the tour, than anything else. I decided I would aim to make myself one of the players on that tour. I began working hard with that goal in mind. Nothing is going to fall to you from the sky. You need to work very, very hard.
After a long career on multiple tours, you’re still winning—most recently claiming three of your 13 PGA Tour Champions titles in the 2022 season. How do you keep your game in championship shape?
To me, golf is a way of life. It’s not a job. Golf is my life. I gave a lot to the game, and the game gave everything back to me. It became one hand washing the other. I love everything about the game, and my life would be impossible to imagine without golf. To this day, I still have that feeling for competition in the bottom of my stomach—that passion that made me focus on golf as what I wanted to do with my life is still there.
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Do you think the passion, the openness, and the joy you show out on the golf course ever rubs your opponents or golf traditionalists the wrong way?
Different people, different characters—and golf can bring that out in people. I learned a long time ago that you need to smile on the golf course. You need to enjoy yourself. That’s the key. Enjoy what you’re doing, and forget the result. The result is coming, no matter what, so enjoy what you’re doing while you’re doing it, whether in life or on the golf course. Do that and then see the rewards.
While you do what you do, you like to have a cigar lit. Do you have a favorite?
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The Arturo Fuentes OPUS X.
You’re involved with multiple charities. One of the most prominent is your team up with former PGA Tour pro and fellow countryman José Maria Olazábal to raise money for children in need at the Olazábal and Friends Charity Pro-Am. How did you get involved with that cause?
I am very close friends with José Maria, and when he asks me to support such a cause with him, of course I’m coming. Anything he asks of me, I’ll be there. Over the years, I played so many rounds of golf with José Maria and Seve (Ballesteros, the lateSpanish golf legend and five-time major championship winner). We had so much fun together, and I trust and believe in the cause that José Maria supports. That’s a good way to give something back.
You mentioned Seve Ballesteros, and he was also known for playing the game with great joy and excitement. What did you take away from playing with him?
Seve was the master of playing with joy and happiness. And, he would never give up on anything because of the passion he had. I learned from watching the belief he had in himself, no matter what the situation was on the golf course.
After learning so many lessons like that, I wish I could be 25 again and keep the experience I have now.
Seve passed his dedication on to you. What do you look to pass on to younger golfers?
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