Hong Kong: Spanish veteran Miguel Angel Jimenez, bidding to become the oldest player to win on the European Tour, grabbed a share of the lead after the third round at the $2 million (Dh7.34 million) UBS Hong Kong Open on Saturday.
He was 10-under-par 200 for the tournament, level with the overnight leader, Michael Campbell.
Matteo Manassero, winner of the Barclays Singapore Open last week and half Jimenez’s age, moved ominously into contention with six-under 64.
The Italian, 19, was joint third with China’s Zhang Lianwei, a shot behind the co-leaders. Next up, another shot adrift, was Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed. Peter Lawrie of Ireland and the Dane Anders Hansen were three off the leaders.
With world number one Rory McIlroy on the plane home after failing to make the cut, the 48-year-old Jimenez made his move on the Kiwi Campbell, who is hitting the kind of form that saw him lift the US Open in 2005.
Jimenez, who carded a 68, is chasing a hat-trick of titles at the Hong Kong Open, which is co-sanctioned between the European Tour and Asian Tour. He was also victorious at Fanling in 2004 and 2007.
Organisers of the event have moved to defend the tournament after it lost its main drawcard McIlroy. The 23-year-old failed to make the cut after his second round on Friday. Despite that and rain forecast for Saturday, organisers of the co-sanctioned European Tour and Asian Tour event said they expected a good weekend of action.
“Like us, he was obviously disappointed that he could not find his very best on the course this week,” an official statement said.
“But it certainly was not for want of trying and his absence for the last two rounds in no way detracts from what promises to be another exciting weekend.”
