Jimenez Off to Hot Start in Turkey


Seemingly ageless Miguel Angel Jiménez fired a 9-under 63 to take the opening-round lead in the Turkish Airlines Open. The third of four events in the European Tour's season-ending Final Series got underway Thursday.

The 50-year-old Spaniard posted seven birdies and an eagle for a one-stroke lead over England's Ian Poulter. Jiménez got his eagle on the par-4 10th after holing his approach.

Jimenez already holds the European Tour's all-time mark as the oldest winner following his victory in May's Spanish Open and could extend that record with a win this week. He has 21 European Tour titles in his illustrious career.

"Nine-under par on this course, only first round, it's a good start," Jiménez told the European Tour's website after his round. "It's nice, making a low score."

As for his eagle, he noted, "I hit a nice lob-wedge on the green [at the 10th]. You play very well, you just try to enjoy yourself, and it's the way to shoot very low - it's still exciting and I managed today to do that."

Jimenez enjoys the course. "I like the golf course with trees on it. It feels nice and you have everything, you have some long holes, you have some short holes and you have a mix. I feel comfortable on this golf course.

"It's special because I've been struggling a little bit the last few months and you shoot under par, you feel good. Everything is getting close - I started to roll the ball better on the green and everything starts to go close and that helps."

Poulter also had a nice outing with seven birdies, an eagle and a lone dropped shot on the par-4 12th. The 38-year-old hasn't visited the winner's circle in Europe or the U.S. since the WGC-HSBC Champions in November 2012.

"I'm right there," Poulter said of his game. "Within the space of a couple of weeks, I feel really good about myself. I don't have any aches or pains, which is really nice. I feel strong and that means I can practice. And when I practice and start holing some putts, then I'm going to be full of confidence like I am right now."

Trailing Jimenez by two are England's Tyrell Hatton, Australia's Wade Ormsby and Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge.

Tied for sixth after 67s are Oliver Fisher, Andy Sullivan, Hennie Otto, Branden Grace, Romain Wattel, Edoardo Molinari, Marc Warren, Danny Willett and Stephen Gallacher.

Defending champion Victor Dubuisson didn't take advantage of the good scoring conditions. And the 24-year-old Frenchman has some work to do just to make the 36-hole cut after a 77.

In his 600th start on the European Tour, Colin Montgomerie also struggled, posting a 76. The tournament is being played this week at Montgomerie Maxx Royal, a course he designed.

Friday's second-round tee times were moved up by 90 minutes due to a forecast of thunderstorms in the area.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014090/leaderboard/index.html.