Jimenez celebrates fifth win

Miguel Angel Jimenez, of Spain, shot a four-under-par 66 yesterday to win the Hong Kong Open by one stroke over Ireland's defending champion Padraig Harrington and the South African James Kingston, who both carded 67.

It was Jimenez's fifth win of the year and followed his victory at the Asian Open in China. The Spaniard finished the tournament on 266, 14 under par, at the Hong Kong Golf Club course.

Jimenez and Kingston were tied before the South African drove into the trees at the 18th and needed a penalty drop.

Harrington could have forced a play-off on the last hole but missed a 25-foot birdie putt.

"Five victories, nobody can think you can win so many at the start of the year," said the ponytailed Jimenez, dressed in the winner's red jacket. "It's nice, I've got my Ferraris in red. This jacket is going to match."

Last year, Harrington took the title by one stroke after birdies at his last two holes, but it wasn't to be a repeat success. The Irishman admitted that he probably "missed six very makable putts in the round and that cost me".

Thailand's Thammanoon Srirot and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn hit 69 to tie for fourth. Nick Faldo and David Howell were joint sixth on 272. Both Faldo and Howell carded 71 in the final round. "I just needed more trust," Faldo said. "Just second guessing myself sometimes and I was wrong."

Lee Westwood's attempt to end his 15-month title drought finished in failure in Sun City, South Africa, yesterday as the home favourite Retief Goosen won the Nedbank Challenge.

Westwood has not won since September 2003, but he led at the start of the final round. However a seven at the eighth hole ended his challenge. His collapse continued down the back nine, with four dropped shots between the 10th and 15th holes.

Goosen carded a 69 to complete his tournament on seven under while Westwood finished in 80, eight over for the day and three over for the tournament. He shared sixth place.