Don’t be fooled Miguel Angel Jimenez is fiercely competitive

Over the last two weeks, Miguel Angel Jimenez has once again managed to defy logic and charm the galleries in equal measure.

He has finished runner-up at the Spanish Open and the BMW PGA Championship, and he’s also broken the European Tour record for the number of holes-in-one.

At 51, Miguel could quite easily be making a killing on the Champions Tour. Instead, he continues to compete with golfers half his age.

To score aces in successive weeks is very rare. But it’s also testament to Miguel’s accuracy because he hits it close so often.

And even though he finished second at Wentworth, his achievement almost overshadowed the brilliance of young Korean winner, Ben An.

Miguel was roared on by the crowd, and behind Rory McIlroy he’s become the second biggest draw on tour. With his cigars, love of wine and big smile, Miguel creates this sense of enjoyment with fans.

It’s a mutual love-in and he certainly played to the galleries with his celebration when he got his hole-in-one.

His warm-up routines have become legendary and even fellow pros stop to watch. A YouTube video of them has received 400,000 hits!

But don’t be fooled by all this. He has a fierce competitive streak burning inside, which came out at the WGC Match Play when he squared up to Keegan Bradley.

Miguel was a late developer and didn’t figure until his mid-30s, so he’s far from burnt out in golfing terms.

The Spaniard is driven to keep pushing the boundaries. He has set the record three times as the oldest European Tour winner and don’t bet against a fourth.

And he’ll think there’s no reason why he can’t make the Ryder Cup next year at Hazeltine.

He has not yet taken up Champions Tour membership because there’s no need. But he’s cherry-picked four seniors events in America and already won twice.

Miguel could have played in the Senior PGA Championship last weekend, which Colin Montgomerie won.

It was a great achievement for Monty to win his third Senior Major and retain the title, but Miguel’s performance at Wentworth just surpassed it.

Results will dictate when it’s time to move up permanently, but for now, Miguel remains a danger wherever he plays.