Maui Jim Inc. has added Professional Golfer Miguel Angel Jimenez to its team of ambassadors. The announcement was made at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club for which Maui Jim is the Official Eyewear Supplier.
With 23 tour victories currently under his belt, Jimenez held the record as the oldest winner on the European Tour at 50 years and 133 days when he won the Open de Espana in May 2014. In doing so, he beat that same record when he successfully defended the Hong Kong Open for the fourth time in December 2013. Jimenez counts his four Ryder Cup appearances as career highlights.
Born into humble beginnings in Malaga, Spain, the fifth of seven brothers, Jimenez left school at 15 years of age and worked in a garage and then at Torrequebrada Golf Club, near Malaga in Spain, collecting golf balls on the driving range and as a caddie. After watching his idol Seve Ballesteros in the Spanish Open at Torrequebrada in 1979, Jimenez was inspired to take up the game himself, turning professional in 1982.
2014 was a successful year for Jimenez with three victories – in Hong Kong, Spain and in his first Champions Tour event in the United States at the Greater Gwinnett Championship. In 2015 Jimenez will split his time between the European Tour and Champions Tour, where he achieved his first success of the year at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, Hawaii. His current world ranking is 72 and is ranked 29 on the European Tour Race to Dubai.
In 2012 Jimenez created the Miguel Angel Jimenez Junior Circuit in Spain, to give children from the age of 7 to 18 the opportunity to play in a series of tournaments against other children of a similar age. The Junior Circuit is divided into different age categories for boys and girls. In 2014 there were 13 different tournaments around Spain, with up to 120 children competing at each one. The winners in each category accumulate points towards the Final Ranking and those with the most points will play at the Final in December in Malaga. The Junior Circuit is now an Official Partner of the Royal Spanish Federation of Golf.
Jimenez also designs golf courses that are considered beautiful and challenging. Recent projects include Prosper Golf Resort in Celadna, Ostrava in the Czech Republic and Naco Golf & Country Club in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.
Once known as “The Mechanic,” he is now considered by many to be the world's most interesting golfer with a relaxed charisma and ever-present Cohiba Siglo VI or Partagas Serie E No. 2 cigars. Adding to his unique style will be several pairs of Maui Jim sunglasses, including Sugar Beach, Frigate and a classic pair of aviators called Mavericks.
“I am about enjoying life and enjoying golf,” he said, “so, I only work with products that legitimately enhance how I see the game. When I had the chance to test Maui Jim, I was impressed by the clarity of the lenses, and their ability to improve what I see on the course. The color is amazing, so it makes the whole game more rewarding, whether I win or lose. But, I'm out to win!”
“Miguel exemplifies what Maui Jim is all about be competitive, be the best, but enjoy life along the way,” commented Maui Jim's Global Director of Golf and Tennis, John Romaine. “He has an incredible work ethic, but is a generous, exuberant person. We're looking forward to working with him on his initiatives and to being counted among his sponsors for what we hope will be his most colorful season.”
All Maui Jim lenses use patented PolarizedPlus2® lens technologies that eliminate 100 percent of UV rays and 99.9 percent of glare from above, below and behind each lens. Maui Jim is the only company whose lenses feature a combination of three rare earth elements that produce true, vibrant colors. These rare earth elements also enhance definition and depth perception to produce crisper and more accurate views of the fairways and greens.
