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Friday, 18 March 2016

Health Forces Olazabal Out of Masters

Jose Maria Olazabal will not play in the Masters for health reasons that have kept him from competing for an entire year.

The two time Masters champion did not specify his health problems on Friday, only that tests show "some improvement."

"I am sorry to announce that I'm unable to attend this year as I am not feeling well," Olazabal said in a statement. "The Masters is very special to me, and walking up Magnolia Lane gives me a peace of mind like nowhere else."

The 50-year-old Spaniard won the Masters in 1994 and 1999. His second Green Jacket, which he won over Greg Norman, followed a debilitating ailment in his foot that he feared would end his career. Olazabal is in the World Golf Hall of Fame, and he was the winning Ryder Cup captain for Europe four years ago.

But he has not played a tournament since he shot 71 in the second round at the Masters a year ago and missed the cut.

"It's been very tough being at home these last few months doing nothing," Olazabal said.

"Now I'm feeling better. I hit a bucket of balls every morning and spend 45 minutes on the putting green. I practice for about three hours. I don't set myself goals or dates. Time will tell."

Olazabal said he has regular tests that show improvement, "but the main thing is to get rid of pain."

Wednesday, 5 September 2012

Mahan Absence Surprises Chema

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European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal admits he was surprised to see US counterpart Davis Love III select Brandt Snedeker as a wildcard ahead of Hunter Mahan.

Love confirmed his 12-man line-up for this month's match at Medinah on Tuesday as he added Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson and Snedeker as his four captain's picks.

Olazabal, who named Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts as his wildcards last month, described Love's selections as "solid picks".

However, he did concede he thought that his opposite number might opt for twice-capped Mahan over rookie Snedeker.

"They are very strong picks but then at least two of them were pretty obvious in Stricker and Jim Furyk but the other two, Dustin Johnson and Brandt Snedeker, have been playing pretty well lately," Olazabal said ahead of this week's KLM Open in Holland.

"So there is no question that they are very solid picks.

"All the American players from nine to 14 on the list were all very solid and Davis could have picked any four.

"The only question mark as I see it was Snedeker picked ahead of Mahan but then Davis has gone for form.

"But then Snedeker has pretty much been playing well from the start of the summer and all the way to the FedEx Series.

"However, Mahan has not been playing all that well, so he went for form and in that regard he has my respect."

Olazabal will be playing alongside European team members Colsaerts and Martin Kaymer for the first two rounds at Hilversumche Golf Club this week.

He did, though, laugh off suggestions that he had requested to be paired with the Belgian and the German and insisted he would be focusing on his own game, and not the Ryder Cup, at an event which he won back in 1989.

"I had nothing to do with Nicolas and Martin playing alongside me for the first two rounds," Olazabal responded with a smile.

"So I am really happy with that but then I will not be watching them all the time, as I will be focusing on my game.

"I won this event a long time ago, and very early in my career, and it would be nice to add my name to the trophy again."