Double U.S. Masters winning Jose Maria Olazabal returns to competition this week declaring he can no longer blame illness on playing poorly.
A smiling Jose Maria Olazabal with Miguel Angel Jimenez and Press Officer Maria Acacia
Olazabal was in the European Tour fitness van late this afternoon undergoing yet another massage on his long time worrying back.
But there has been the comfort for the champion Spaniard of contesting all four events on the recent Middle East Swing.
“I feel positive and look forward to this season,” he said ahead of this week’s Andalucian Open in Malaga.
“My start at the Emirates was a struggle but I kept improving.
“I made the cut in Qatar and had a good week in Dubai where I started to strike the ball well and managed a decent score.
“But when you start from zero, as I have done this season, there’s always room for improvement.
“The good thing is it was the first time that I managed to play four weeks in a row for the last three or four years.
“At the end of the month, I was reasonably tired, but I am pleased to see that I was able to compete fairly normally and to complete a good last tournament.
“But I do feel physically well enough, and hopefully I will keep improving so my health is no excuse to perform badly right now.
“It’s true that I am experienced, but experience is of no use if you keep hitting bad shots.”
Olazabal indicated he will also contest next week’s Shell Houston Open before heading north to Augusta where he won in 1994 and 1999.
In fact, Olazabal is the last European born player to have been fitted with the famed green Augusta National member’s jacket.
And Olazabal indicated he will resist the urge not to travel to Medinah and venue for next year’s Ryder Cup.
“I am hoping it will be very, very quiet for the Ryder Cup until September, and I will make it so,” he smiled.
Most interest this week will focus on the Spanish trio of Olazabal, tournament host Miguel Angel Jimenez and Alvaro Quiros.
And Jimenez and Quiros will be joining Olazabal at Augusta National.
