Twenty years ago a toddler made his way onto our TV screens when he was collected up into his parent’s arms on the 18th green after his dad had just won the Volvo Masters in his native Spain. Roll the clock forward and Miguel Angel Jimenez Junior is making his own way in the game – he’s just topped the first two of two qualifying schools for the Mena Tour.
The 24-year-old, who appears taller and slimmer but minus the ponytail and omnipresent cigar, shot 9-under for three rounds in Jordan.
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In an interview with Golfweek during his time at college in the States he explained that there were plenty of similarities with his 56-year-old dad who has now won 33 times around the world.
“We’re quite similar. We are both really aggressive when we play. We see a pin and we go for it.
“It definitely gives you an advantage, not only how to play but how to behave on a course, how to stay calm, stay passionate. Some weeks I’d go travel with him and even though I’m not playing for a week I’d be better after that week because I’d get the rhythm of him playing and when he struggles, how he comes back.”
And his coach Chris Carlin also noted some skills that will be essential if he’s going to make it in the game.
“Definitely his best attribute is he fights really, really hard. He practises hard but when he plays, he plays with passion.”
As for dad he told Golf.com in an interview in 2015 that both his sons, Miguel Angel Jr and younger brother Victor, who have spent years accompanying the Spanish superstar around the world at tournaments, can’t get enough of the game.
“They have the poison in their blood. The first thing they say when they see me is, ‘Dad, let’s go play.’”
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“Do they have any game? They’ve got everything. They always hear me talk about moving the ball strategically but they want to hit it hard, like all kids. They want to massacre the ball. Bust it open. But it takes more than that to beat me.
“Look, I will help them all I can to get them going, but they have to make their own paths. I carved out my own path. I give them the clubs and the balls but they have to play the game themselves.”