Olazabal puts Ryder Cup captaincy on hold

Spaniard could reject skipper’s position due to poor health

Jose Maria Olazabal has thrown his expected captaincy of the European Ryder Cup team into doubt because of health worries.

Celtic Manor skipper Colin Montgomerie immediately suggested the Spaniard would be his perfect successor when the biennial team event travels to Medinah in the US in two years time.

“I hope Jose Maria will be well enough to be the next captain,” said the Scot in the wake of this year’s success.

However, the 44-year-old has been plagued by injuries and ill health over the past two seasons and admitted not being able to play each week on tour may negatively affect his possible leadership.

In recent times, being active on tour – and therefore being someone who can relate to younger players – has been looked upon favourably by selectors for captaincy.

“It would hurt me to say ‘no’ but if it is the right decision my conscience will be clear,” said the two-time Masters champion before making his comeback at this week’s Castello Masters.

“If the committee decides it’s going to be me as the next captain, I need to talk with them beforehand to see how we can solve the possible inconvenience that I may not be on the tour playing that much.

“I have been thinking about it for a long while and that’s why I put the issue on the table. So I can see the situation where I will have to say ‘no’ and that will be only because of my health.

“But if they appoint me I somehow have to be close to the players, somehow be able to compete alongside them, talk to them, to see how they think, and just be close to the tour through the qualifying process.”

As well as suffering from rheumatic pain in his back and shoulders since 2008, Olazabal, who had played just one competitive event in 2010, was also forced to take a break from golf between 1995-96 due to arthritis in his feet.

It has already been suggested that Olazabal could be named before the end of the year, alongside American hot favourite Davis Love III.

Montgomerie was named as Ryder Cup captain in January 2009 only four months after Europe’s comprehensive loss to the USA at Valhalla.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered