Simon Griffiths
Credit: Staysure Marbella Legends.
Simon Griffiths is a golfer who hasn’t had an easy life. He won his second pro victory in Spain and his second overall by beating Majors winners, Ryder Cup captains and DP Tour winners.
The Englishman, who is only 50 years old, won the Staysure Marbella Legends at Aloha Golf in Marbella with relative ease. Malaga golfer Miguel Ángel Jiménez finished in fourth position.
Griffiths followed his previous strategy, making sure to avoid mistakes and accumulating a lot of birdies. In three days, he had only made one bogey. Colin Montgomerie had three birdies on five holes at the start, but it was not enough to stop him. Eight-time Order of Merit champion Colin Montgomerie ended his lucky streak with two consecutive bogeys.
Griffiths, a professional since 1996, spent his years as a caddie, and then playing at his club Sunningdale until his turn came. He signed up for the Legends Tour last year and won the European Senior Masters.
Jiménez, in his only performance in Europe since the British Open, was five strokes behind the champion after 70 shots. ‘It has been a little hard today,’ he admitted. ‘The holes have moved a lot, too much. He told the organization that it was a great week. The field, the people and the tournament were all in excellent condition. José María Olazábal, meanwhile, came ninth with another final card of 70.