Dubai: Miguel Angel Jimenez hasn't written off his chances of a title-defence at this weekend's Omega Dubai Desert Classic, but he's not exactly complimentary of his game of late either.
Speaking from the sidelines of the par 72, 7301 yard Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Course where he won the tournament last year with a play-off victory over Lee Westwood, Jimenez said: "I'm very happy to be back here defending my title. It's a good place to start and last year I started fantastically and I hope it will go the same way this year."
However, of his form so far in 2011, which has seen him finish tied for 11 in Abu Dhabi, tied for second in Bahrain and tied for 74 in Qatar, questions on his consistency were duly raised.
Revealing his frustration, the slightly extrovert Jimenez replied: "The history of these past three or four weeks begins in Abu Dhabi. I'm putting very well but my driving is going all over the place."
"Then I came second in Bahrain and played so well. The difference was [in Qatar] I started watching the putter; but the hole is moving —the putter is like a boomerang and hits the bag and breaks in two."
"Now I have a new putter and I'm going to practice with it later. I hope it's coming back. I think these greens, they are very good and I'll probably get my rhythm back soon."
The 47-year-old Spaniard added course familiarity and a soft spot for the Emirate should restore the balance in terms of results.
"I've been playing in Dubai since almost the very first tournament, I think I've only missed it twice in 22 years."
Tiger challenge
"I saw this place grow up from the very first tournament we came here.
"There was only one road and you could see more camels than cars. Now after 20 years it's amazing to see all these changes."
Not put off by a possible Tiger Woods challenge on his silverware Jimenez added: "We would like him to stay up there as the best in the game.
"We don't want him to move away at all. We need those kind of characters on the course.
"People follow him, they follow the new era of players coming, but its good to mix, it's great for golf."
Jimenez beat Westwood in last year's Desert Classic after three play-off rounds with the pair tied at the end 11 under par.
