CALGARY — Having already won four PGA Tour Champions events this season, Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez has put himself in great position for another potential victory.
Jimenez and New Zealand’s Steve Alker both carded rounds of 7-under 63 to sit atop the leaderboard after the first round of the 2025 Rogers Charity Classic on Friday.
When asked what has led to his tremendous success this season, the 61-year-old Spaniard replied that he hasn’t done anything special.
“I feel great on the golf course and that’s it,” Jimenez said. “I feel like a bull — strong like a bull.”
Jimenez had seven birdies, including three in a four-hole span on the back nine at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club to take the lead by himself.
“I played very solid and I hope to continue the rest of the weekend,” said Jimenez, who has played at the senior-circuit event in Calgary seven times over the past decade. “It’s very nice people. It’s a nice city. I enjoy it because I keep coming here. I like the golf course.
"When you feel confident in a place, you like to come because you make good scores.”
Meanwhile, Alker rolled in birdie putts on his final two holes to pull into a tie with his rival.
“Always nice to be off to a great start,” said Alker, who finished sixth at last year’s tournament. “I’ve shot some low rounds here in the past, so just kind of had the momentum to keep going here.”
Shane Bertsch and Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey are tied for third after shooting 6-under 64 on the opening day of the three-round tournament.
After teeing off among the early groups, Bertsch birdied three of his final five holes to take the early clubhouse lead.
“Someone might pass 6 under by the end of the day, you never know,” said Bertsch, whose only previous PGA Tour Champions win was back in 2020 at the Charles Schwab Series at Bass Pro Shops Big Cedar Lodge.
“I’m starving, but it’s hard out here. It’s hard, but it’s doable. You’ve just got to keep playing well. I’m just thinking about the first tee shot tomorrow and then trying to improve on a couple of things that I didn’t do so well today.”
One day before his 50th birthday, Gainey carded a round of 5-under 65 at Highwood Golf and Country Club on Tuesday in High River, Alta., to earn one of three spots into the event at the final tournament qualifier.
“I’ve been counting it down for the longest time,” Gainey said of his eager anticipation to play in his first Champions Tour event. “It has been on countdown for about at least five years.
“It has been an awesome week to turn 50 and be out here with these legends (and to) get to play with Corey Pavin and Glen Day to start with. It was so much fun being out here with some of the guys I grew up idolizing, watching, and then (having) a chance to play with them.”
Calgary’s Wes Martin had four birdies and just one bogey to card a round of 3-under 67 to finish as the top Canadian in a five-way tie for 17th place.
“Today was pretty much almost a perfect day,” Martin said. “I birdied four out of the first five holes, which is a total dream start. Honestly, it was all foggy. I was just swinging and it was going right where I wanted and the putts were falling. It was incredible.”
Like Gainey, Martin only secured his spot in the tournament on Tuesday after shooting a sizzling 9-under 62 at Highwood Golf.
“It’s just been a lot of work to get to this point,” said Martin, who admitted to tearing up before hitting his first tee shot of the day. “You never know when it’s going to happen. To hear the support and just the cheers and to hear your name like that … I couldn’t help but to get emotional.”
Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., shot an even-par round of 70 to finish in a nine-way tie for 48th place.
Fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Stephen Ames and Gordon Burns of Holland Landing, Ont., finished one shot back of Weir at 1-over 71.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2025.
Laurence Heinen, The Canadian Press
