By Peter Auf der Heyde Sep 30, 2010, 11:25 GMT
Newport, Wales - Spanish golfer Miguel Angel Jimenez admitted Thursday that he was starting to feel tense ahead of Friday's start to the Ryder Cup.
The cigar-smoking Jimenez, who has won three times on the European Tour this year, said that he was looking forward to the competition which sees a team of European golfers compete against their American counterparts.
'I am not nervous, just tense. When you get here to the Ryder Cup, all week you feel like a knot in your stomach. As the start is getting closer, your knot is getting tighter,' said Jimenez.
'You know what's going to happen and what's going to happen at the Ryder Cup, what you do on the first tee, but you know the pressure is there, and that is good.
'I like to feel that thing, and that makes you motivated more, and that's where you want to be. It is a good thing. You need to feel things.'
The 46-year-old, who is frequently seen puffing on huge cigars with a fine glass of wine in his hand and drives a red Ferrari, said that he would not be changing his lifestyle for the duration of the competition.
'I don't know if the number (of cigars) is going to increase or not, but I will enjoy, anyway. Today as soon as I finish, I'm going to start another one.'
The Spaniard, who is known as the Mechanic as he enjoys fixing his fast cars, has previously won at the venue of this year's Ryder Cup, the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport.
'That gives me confidence. You have the confidence the way you see yourself playing. I like being here. Not only this golf course, but the other golf course, and I come here every year to play, and I like the place and I like the people and I feel good here.'
Jimenez has played on three Ryder Cup teams before, but has yet to play in Europe. 'It is the first one of the four appearances in Europe for me.
'It is nice, especially when you see around and you see the public and things, it is a different atmosphere. You feel that all of these guys are behind yourself.'
Jimenez, who has twice been a winner for Spain in the Alfred Dunhill Cup, said that he thought it was a shame that he was the only Spanish golfer competing at Celtic Manor.
'There have been at least a couple of players on the last few ones,' adding that he would not only represent the continent, but also his country.
'I will try to do my best, of course, and try to put the Spanish colour, also, on the European colours.'
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