Masters champion turns caddie at DP World Tour Q School

Ryder Cup players and multiple tour winners are among those inside the ropes at this week’s Final Stage of DP World Tour Q School.

Edoardo Molinari, Chris Wood, Stephen Gallagher and Eddie Pepperell are several of the notable names in Spain this week for the six-round qualifying marathon.

So too, it turns out, is a two-time Masters champion.

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Jose Maria Olazabal began his garlanded career in Europe by winning Q School in 1985, and now aged 58, is passing on his wisdom to his talented young nephew Joseba Torres.

Torres, a former Spanish under-16 champion, has his famous uncle on the bag this week at INFINITUM in Tarragona.

“I’m very lucky to have my uncle José María Olazábal on the bag,” he told the DP World Tour’s website. “I’ve practised with him a lot and to have him on the bag with his experience and his knowledge, I’m very lucky.

“The knowledge he has of how to play the shot, what to do in a certain situation – all the stuff that when you’re playing by yourself you don’t really deal with very well. With him it’s so easy because he tells you exactly what you need to do.

“He has been with me since I started playing golf when I was three years old.

“Obviously in a tournament it is different but he has always been with me and he knows what I’m more comfortable with and not. He really knows my game.

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“Whatever he says I say yes, let’s go and do it because I really trust him. I know he isn’t going to say anything that I don’t need to do so I really trust what he says.”

During a gruelling week where many in the 156-strong field will be pushing their own bag, Olazabal’s insights could be like gold dust for Torres.

Torres has already come through the First and Second Stage of Q School, meaning he is playing 252 holes in his efforts to earn a card onto the DP World Tour.

Only the top 20 players and ties after six rounds across The Lakes and The Hills courses will secure exemption status for 2025.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.