 Jose Maria Olazabal. AP photo |
Jose Maria Olazabal will captain Europe's Ryder Cup team when it defends the trophy against the United States at Medinah in 2012.
The 44-year-old Spaniard, who played in seven Ryder Cups and was Europe's vice-captain for the last two matches, was appointed captain on Tuesday. He succeeds Colin Montgomerie, who guided Europe to a 14½-13½ victory over the U.S. at Celtic Manor, Wales, in October.
Olazabal, a two-time Masters champion and the unanimous choice among Europe's leading players, described his appointment as the "proudest moment" of his career.
"It is a great honor to become the European Ryder Cup captain and I will be committed to getting everything right in the build-up to the 2012 match," he said on the European Tour's website.
Olazabal said his experience as vice-captain would be invaluable.
"I've learned a lot along the way and ... I look forward to drawing on all that knowledge with the aim, of course, to keeping the cup in our possession," he said.
"We all know the Ryder Cup is one of the most exciting and important competitions in the golfing calendar ... but there is nothing like holding that trophy at the end of the week."
Davis Love III is expected to be picked as the next captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team on Thursday. Love was a vice captain in October.
Olazabal has struggled with chronic back problems in recent years, limiting his appearances on tour to just three events in 2010.
An essential requirement of the European Tour is that a captain plays a full tournament schedule in the year of a Ryder Cup to stay close to potential members of the team. Olazabal said he was eager to keep on playing.
"I have accepted the captaincy but I think my desire to keep playing is known by everyone," Olazabal said.
Along with being one of Europe's most popular players over the years, Olazabal has also been one of the team's most successful.
Olazabal has an impressive Ryder Cup record, winning 18 and halving five of his 31 matches. He has been on the winning side three times, in 1987, 1997 and 2006. He was also a member of the team that retained the trophy in 1989 with a 14-14 draw against the U.S. at The Belfry.
His partnership with compatriot Seve Ballesteros is the best in the competition's history. The Spanish pair won 11, halved two and lost two of their 15 matches between 1987-93.
Olazabal was Nick Faldo's vice-captain when the Americans won in Valhalla in 2008. He was a late addition to Montgomerie's staff last year.
Montgomerie, who announced after the win at Celtic Manor that he would be stepping down as captain, said at the time that Olazabal would be "everybody's choice" to take over.
The 44-year-old Spaniard, who played in seven Ryder Cups and was Europe's vice-captain for the last two matches, was appointed captain on Tuesday. He succeeds Colin Montgomerie, who guided Europe to a 14½-13½ victory over the U.S. at Celtic Manor, Wales, in October.
Olazabal, a two-time Masters champion and the unanimous choice among Europe's leading players, described his appointment as the "proudest moment" of his career.
"It is a great honor to become the European Ryder Cup captain and I will be committed to getting everything right in the build-up to the 2012 match," he said on the European Tour's website.
Olazabal said his experience as vice-captain would be invaluable.
"I've learned a lot along the way and ... I look forward to drawing on all that knowledge with the aim, of course, to keeping the cup in our possession," he said.
"We all know the Ryder Cup is one of the most exciting and important competitions in the golfing calendar ... but there is nothing like holding that trophy at the end of the week."
Davis Love III is expected to be picked as the next captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team on Thursday. Love was a vice captain in October.
Olazabal has struggled with chronic back problems in recent years, limiting his appearances on tour to just three events in 2010.
An essential requirement of the European Tour is that a captain plays a full tournament schedule in the year of a Ryder Cup to stay close to potential members of the team. Olazabal said he was eager to keep on playing.
"I have accepted the captaincy but I think my desire to keep playing is known by everyone," Olazabal said.
Along with being one of Europe's most popular players over the years, Olazabal has also been one of the team's most successful.
Olazabal has an impressive Ryder Cup record, winning 18 and halving five of his 31 matches. He has been on the winning side three times, in 1987, 1997 and 2006. He was also a member of the team that retained the trophy in 1989 with a 14-14 draw against the U.S. at The Belfry.
His partnership with compatriot Seve Ballesteros is the best in the competition's history. The Spanish pair won 11, halved two and lost two of their 15 matches between 1987-93.
Olazabal was Nick Faldo's vice-captain when the Americans won in Valhalla in 2008. He was a late addition to Montgomerie's staff last year.
Montgomerie, who announced after the win at Celtic Manor that he would be stepping down as captain, said at the time that Olazabal would be "everybody's choice" to take over.
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