Málaga-born Miguel Ángel Jiménez was honoured as the finest Andalucian golfer of the past three decades during a gala dinner held at Royal Valderrama Club to celebrate Andalucía Golf magazine’s 30th anniversary.
Popularly known as “the world’s most interesting golfer”, Jiménez has won 21 titles on the European Tour, including the 2014 Spanish Open when he extended his record as the oldest Tour winner, aged 50 years and 133 days. He has also won four times on the U.S. Champions Tour since turning 50 and qualifying for the premier international senior tour; and has been a part of four winning Ryder Cup teams, twice as vice captain – to Severiano Ballesteros at Valderrama in 1997 and when captain José María Olazábal led Europe to the team’s “Miracle at Medinah” triumph in 2012.
Four other Andalucian Golf Awards were presented during the event, which was also attended by 2005 U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell, Spanish stalwart José María Cañizares and rising local star María Parra.
The Andalucian ministry for tourism and sport received the award as the institution that has provided the greatest support to Andalucía as a golf destination, including its sponsorship of major tournaments held in the region.
Valderrama was recognised as the premier golf course in Andalucía over the past three decades; and Acosol, the water services public utility that comes under the auspices of the Western Costa del Sol Association of Municipalities, was presented with an award in recognition of its contribution to the environment and sustainability, through the supply of recycled water for golf course irrigation.
Another award was presented to María Acacia López-Bachiller, for her contribution to the sport as the leading Spanish media and communications professional.
Finally, Pablo Mansilla, president of the Royal Andalucian Golf Federation, presented a plaque to Andalucía Golf to mark the occasion and the magazine’s own role in promoting golf in Andalucía since 1987.
During an entertaining speech after receiving the trophy, Jiménez noted that his own European Tour career had begun 30 years ago and he recalled some of the highlights of his career, including playing on the Tour alongside Campbell and Cañizares (with whom he shared a table at the gala dinner), the albatross he scored on Valderrama’s iconic 17th hole during the 1994 Volvo Masters, and his play-off against Tiger Woods in the 1999 American Express World Golf Championship, also at Valderrama.
“I have had the privilege of being on the European Tour for 30 years and the honour of playing with players who are no longer with us, Arnold Palmer and Severiano Ballesteros, as well as others including Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player… I’ve witnessed three different generations; with Tiger, with Rory, with Mickelson, with many others. And I’m still with them.
“People say I have now run out of gas – that’s what you all think (smiles) – but Pisha (his local nickname) will be here for a while. I’m the last caddie-player, and it all ends with me, that memorable, albeit meagrely remunerated, era when we also had the great Olazábal, the first one to come out of the amateur ranks. Here we are, both of us, very good friends, one by the modern route and the other by the old route.
“I’m very pleased with my current life. I’m doing what I want to do in life, and making a living doing it, and I will continue playing golf as long as I believe I can still win, because what motivates me is winning. The great thing about competition is not just the sporting side: it’s also winning, triumphing.”
Jiménez commended Andalucía Golf for its efforts on behalf of Andalucian golf, and expressed the wish that the magazine would “celebrate another 30, another 30 and another 30 more, and the rest of us are still around as well. Many thanks for your efforts and contribution.”
He also expressed his appreciation to the Junta de Andalucía (regional government) for its support of golf, because “it’s very important and the only industry they can’t take away from us here: sun, golf courses and the easy-going charm we have in Andalucía and which we are delighted to share with everyone.”
Andalucía Golf 1987-2017
Looking back over the past three decades, Antonio Sánchez (co-publisher with Stefan Tjellander), wrote in the latest edition, “Thirty years have now passed since our magazine began its journey – in 1987. Thirty years during which we have been able to observe first-hand major changes in both the golf sector and the publishing industry.
“For us they have represented three decades as the pacesetting golf magazine in Andalucía and throughout Spain: the only one with a significant readership outside Spain; the only bilingual golf publication (English and Spanish) published since 1987; and currently the only golf magazine distributed nationally.
“Thirty years of ongoing efforts to spread the word about our golfing attractions and amenities to all corners of Spain and elsewhere in Europe. Today we are living in a new digital world – fortunate for some, perhaps not for others – and you have to know how to adapt. Andalucía Golf/España Golf, two editions of the same publication, has adapted to the evolving realities.
“Without abandoning the print edition – which we believe is indispensible in a sector such as golf, especially in a tourist environment – we have been staunchly committed to exponentially boosting and enhancing our online presence. We now send our newsletters and online magazine to more than 150,000 Spanish and European golfers. The print and online magazines, together with our social media networks, are the only ones in Spain producing exclusive in-house content in English and Spanish.
“Thirty years after setting out on this adventure, Andalucía Golf/España Golf has reinvented itself, and is looking to the future with renewed impetus and the determination to maintain its premier status as a golf publication in Spain, both print and digital.”
