Angel delight

But as the amiable Spaniard puffed on a trademark Cuban cigar and celebrated his victory, Wales' Ian Woosnam was contemplating whether or not to continue on the European Tour.

Starting the day just one stroke adrift of overnight leader Allesandro Tadini, Woosie began his round in perfect fashion with a birdie at the first, firing up the supporters who were out in force to will on the only Welshman still in contention.

But Woosie's problems with the putter, the one he calls the 'Black Devil' never seemed to disappear during his round and he ended up six strokes adrift of Jimenez.

This prompted the usually calm Ryder Cup captain in waiting to consider his future.

"I am going to go away now and chuck the clubs away for a few weeks, maybe even chuck them away all together," he said.

"I am close to doing that, I'm getting really cheesed off with my golf.

"If my putting doesn't improve then the clubs are going in the bag forever.

"Playing in your home tournament can work for you and against you, because of the pressure, but I don't know what I am doing next year, this could be the last time I come to the Wales Open, it might be that drastic."

While Woosie was contemplating his future, world-number 22 Jimenez, the highest ranked player in this year's field, promised that he would be back at the Wales Open in 2006 to defend his crown.

"I think it is a great golf course here and I will definitely come back to defend my title," Jimenez told Celtic Manor owner Sir Terry Matthews after his victory.

Jimenez secured his seventeenth Tour victory, his sixth in the last two years, thanks to a stunning back nine of 29, which included three birdies and a sensational eagle on the par five 16th.

This saw off the commendable challenge of the inexperienced chasing pack, Jean-Francois Lucquin, Allesandro Tadini and fellow Spaniard Jose Manual Lara.

But it was tour school qualifying Swede Martin Erlandsson who took second spot after firing a career best final round of 63.