Born into humble beginnings, the fifth of seven brothers, Miguel Ángel left school at 15 years of age and worked in a garage and then at Torrequebrada Golf Club, near Malaga in Spain, as a caddie and a ball-collecter. After watching his idol Seve Ballesteros in the Spanish Open at Torrequebrada in 1979, Miguel Ángel was inspired to take up the game himself, turning professional in 1982.
With 24 tour victories under his belt, Miguel Ángel holds the record as the oldest winner on the European Tour at 50 years and 133 days when he won the Open de Espana in May 2014. Of those victories, 21 have been on the European Tour and three on the Champions Tour.
