It was a perfect day for the final round of a major championship.
It was pure Scotland on The Old Course at St. Andrews — wind and rain set the stage for the last 18 holes of the Senior Open Championship and memorable duel between two of Europe’s finest.
Miguel Angel Jimenez started the day with a two-shot lead and leads mean nothing with 114 menacing bunkers sitting ready to dash dreams and gnarly gorse ready to deliver stray shots unplayable.
The Mechanic, as Jimenez is known on the European Tour, sent an early message with a superb nine-iron into the first that produced a birdie from three-feet. But it wouldn’t be that easy for the man with 21 wins on the European Tour.
An old nemesis stepped up in the form of Bernhard Langer, the 60-year-old marvel with 41 victories in Europe and 10 Senior Majors.
What transpired was a day-long duel between the two with Langer two holes in front of Jimenez.
Jimenez went out and put up three birdies on the outward nine but couldn’t shake Langer, who found four and set the tone for the battle coming home.
A birdie at the 12th put Jimenez in great shape and he looked like he might shut the door on Langer at the par five 14th, home of the infamous Hell Bunker. It was no factor for The Mechanic after he hit a great drive then pounded three-wood just short of the green. Two putts from 25 feet and he’d be 14-under with a chance to cruise home. He took three putts for par then things really tightened up when he missed from five feet for par at the 15th.
Langer got past the Road Hole and was 11-under standing in 18 fairway. Jimenez faced the difficult Road Hole after a par at 16 and stayed at 12.
After a perfect drive, his approach into 17 came in hot, rolled past the hole, over the green and came to rest on the 18th tee. With putter in hand, he left himself a seemingly impossible 12 feet short for par with Langer posting 11-under.
It was then that Jimenez holed the putt of the tournament.
“That putt on 17 was very important to stay one shot in the lead,” Jimenez said afterward. “It was amazing walking down the middle of the 18th fairway, and the only thing I needed to do was put the ball in the middle of the green and make two putts.”
He did exactly that and collected his second Senior Major, his first-ever win at the home of golf, where Seve Ballesteros won the Open Championship in 1984.
“This is one of my biggest victories,” said Jimenez. “It’s amazing to win here. This is my second Major of the year, and it’s amazing to be the winner of The Senior Open here at St Andrews, the Home of Golf. There are no words to describe the feeling of holding the trophy on the 18th green. To have that trophy in my hand in front of the crowd and my friends, and my family is amazing. 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.”
After he holed that final putt, his old rival, Langer, was there to greet him with a smile and a hug.
It was golf in The Kingdom, golf in its purest form, a rivalry forged over four decades.
Tough conditions, golf’s most historic course and two decorated champions.
Doesn’t get any better than that.
