The next capitan?
Last updated: 18th January 2008
Olazabal: talking to Golf Night
The Americans are very determined to change things around.
Jose Maria Olazabal on the Ryder Cup
Quotes of the week
Jose Maria Olazabal spoke to Golf Night about playing with Seve and of his aspirations to captain Europe.
Olazabal will be Nick Faldo's assistant captain of Europe for this year's Ryder Cup and he told Golf Night that he would love to captain the team in the future.
"It's a possibility," said Olazabal, "that's why this year is going to be very important for me (as assistant captain) to see how things work outside the golf course.
"I believe I do have the experience - I know what golf is about and I am close to the players.
"And at the end of the day it's how the players play on the golf course, so if they play well then they will do the job right."
"Everything is going to be new for me. Being a member of the Ryder Cup team as a player you just concentrate on playing golf and doing your best and you put aside all the other things.
"In this case it will be the opposite. I'm going to be the connection between Nick [Faldo] and the players if they want to pass any kind of information to me during the season."
Amazing
The Spaniard made his Ryder Cup debut at the age of 21 in 1987 and is one half of the most successful pairing in Ryder Cup history, along with fellow countryman, Seve Balesteros.
Balesteros retired from that game last year and Olazabal spoke about their successful partnership.
"My first Ryder Cup in 87 - my first - I played with Seve and he was very special. I hadn't been in a situation like that before, everything was new to me. I was really impressed when we stood on the first tee.
"I was nervous but I was, at the same time, really impressed seeing that amount of people on the one hole just watching four guys playing golf. It was just amazing at that time.
"We were two players who see the game in pretty much the same way - the shots around the greens, how to play holes, how to shape the ball in certain moments.
"I think that helped us whenever we had to play as a team. There were not many questions to ask, as both of us were pretty much in the same page.
"He was impressive to play with - I haven't seen anyone else with the same passion or imagination on the golf course.
"Seve was very energetic and passionate at the same time on the golf course. He was great fun."
Faldo
How will his captain do in his first stint in charge of the team?
"I think he will do very well. He's a very methodical player and he was, when he was in his prime and winning major events, very focussed on what he had to do. And I think he's going to be pretty much the same as Ryder Cup captain.
"He has to create a great atmosphere with the players and he will be perfect.
"We are seeing changes in the US team so they are going to be the best team possible.
"Somehow I think what has happened in the last couple of Ryder Cups will make it more difficult for us as I think they are really upset about what has happened the last few times.
"They are very determined to change things around."
