Jose Maria Olazabal is proudly being honoured for a second occasion in as many week’s.
No sooner had Olazabal agreed to accept the Association of Golf Writers (AGW) invitation at last fortnight’s Masters to become an honouree vice-president and European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald announced he’s selected ‘Ollie’ as his third vice captain for this year’s Ryder Cup on Wednesday.
Jose Maria Olazabal – Image Ryder Cup Europe
“There is not any bigger challenge for a golfer than facing a Ryder Cup away from home and we have to be mentally prepared.”
This will be Olazabal’s fifth time as a vice captain, including two years ago when Team Europe earned a 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 win in Italy.
The Spaniard also held that role in 2008, 2010 and 2014.Donald previously named Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and Italy’s Edoardo Molinari as vice captains.
Olazabal, a two-time Masters champion, played in the Ryder Cup seven times from 1987 to 2006.
“He is synonymous with European golf and the Ryder Cup,” Donald said.
“He bleeds blue and gold like nobody else. His passion for the Ryder Cup is second to none.”
Olazabal’s AGW honour comes aftrer he was approached at the recent Masters and asked he would accept the AGWs invitation to become a vice-president, and there was no hesitation from the double Masters winner.
He joins Tony Jacklin, Bernhard Langer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player as an honouree vice-president of the Association.
