It’s been eight years since Jose Maria Olazabal last tasted individual success but Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup captain has not given up on winning a second Irish Open 23 years after his first.
Olazabal added a 69 to his opening 68 to move to seven under par in windy and overcast conditions on the Carton House course on the outskirts of Dublin.
It left the 47-year old, and oldest player in the field, trailing just two shots behind the leading pair of England’s Robert Rock (66) and former US Amateur champ, Peter Uihlein (68) heading to the third round of the the event in Co. Kildare.
Rock is out to make amends when he lost the 2009 Irish Open to then amateur Shane Lowry, and with Lowry having the whole Irish nation behind him at Baltray.
- Victorious Ryder Cup captain, Jose Maria Olazabal hasn’t given up thoughts of winning individually. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
Rock went onto to win the 2011 Italian Open and then in January last year humbled playing partner and 14-time Major winning Tiger Woods to capture the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
And Rock confessed facing a roaring patriotic Irish crowd was a lot tougher task than dealing with Woods.
“I’ll never forget that day, playing with Shane as that was really, really tough,” said Rock.
“It was probably harder almost than playing alongside Tiger, because I did feel like I had some people on my side in Abu Dhabi (smiling).“I don’t even think there was one at Baltray.”
Uihlein was less than a month old when Olazabal won the 1990 Irish Open at Portnarnock but the Spaniard has not tasted success since winning the 2005 Majorca Classic and a 23rd Tour win.
“I have been working hard to be in this position, so I am not surprised with my play, so far,” said the affable Spaniard.
“I have kept working on my game with one goal to give myself the chance and the opportunity to be in this situation.
“So I have never lost hope in winning again and that is why I spend hours and hours on the driving range hitting balls.
“Of course, as the Ryder Cup captain I was not able to dedicate as much time to my game as I could but now that it is over I can spend more time on the driving range.
“Heath-wise, even though I have suffered a lot at the moment I can’t complain. I do have a few aches and pains here and here but overall I am pretty good shape.
“It’s a fantastic position for me to be in as the Irish Open is very close to my heart.”
If Olazabal were to win this week he would be just a year younger than when fellow Spaniard created Tour history last November in Hong Kong when he became the oldest Tour champion at age 48 years and 318 days.
Olazabal added: “The fact is it all comes down to how good you play golf and if your game is sharp you can pretty much face any challenge.
“The only weak link in my game is the driver and struggling with it but looking to improve it.
“Nowadays it is just a bigger demand on that club than years back.
“But really at the moment, victory has not crossed my mind as there is still two more days to go.”
