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Jimenez's winning Chinese caddy takes a back seat
Plucked from the vast caddy ranks of Shanghai's Tomson Pudong Golf Club to carry the bag of Ryder Cup star Miguel Angel Jimenez, Yang Lihong was the unofficial star of last year's BMW Asian Open. The cigar-chomping, pony-tailed Spaniard stormed back from a six-shot deficit on the final day to claim the winner's cheque of US$250,000 to the delight of his diminutive female caddy. For Yang, a 30-year-old mother of six, it was one of the best days of her life and certainly the most prosperous - her week's work earned her US$1,300, nearly seven times her usual monthly salary. This year, however, Jimenez, Europe's most prolific winner in 2004 with four titles, has brought along his regular South African caddy, and Yang, a victim of her own success, has been elevated into the caddy management ranks. "I would really like to be Miguel's caddy again this year but he has brought his own caddy to help him defend the title. It is a shame because it was really wonderful last year," she said. Yang, who used part of her cut of Jimenez's winnings to treat her family and friends to a slap-up meal, played down the criticism that was subsequently levelled at the Spaniard for his lack of generosity. Caddies are usually paid between 5 and 10 per cent of a players' weekly on-course earnings. "I was slightly disappointed but still, at the end of the day, I was happy to get what I got - it was enough for me," she said. "If a player has a professional caddy then they can expect to be paid a lot more, but I was not his full-time caddy so I can understand the circumstances." Jimenez praised on Tuesday her performance but justified his decision to stick with his regular caddy Mike Kerr this week. "Last year I didn't have a regular caddy so I used her," he said. "My caddy now has been working for me for a year so I am of course using him." The 41-year-old from Malaga, however, said he had fond memories of their days together trudging the fairways of the par-72 7,300-yard course. "It was a very nice week. It was my first time in China in my life. What can I say? Great memories." The 2005 BMW Asian Open, which is joint-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours, tees off today. Besides Jimenez, world No 3 Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Luke Donald and China's Zhang Lianwei are among the stars competing in the US$1.5-million tournament.
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