The unscheduled encounter on the putting green at The K-Club yesterday between the two famous members of the "Spanish Armada," represented a gilt-edged opportunity for some subtle motivation from Europe's Ryder Cup skipper, Severiano Ballesteros - not that Jose Maria Olazabal needed much reminding of the task at hand.
Still, Olazabal, who arrived at the Straffan venue last Saturday in preparation for the Smurfit European Open, which starts tomorrow, didn't mind lending his ear to his friend and prospective captain. What did Ballesteros say? "Well, Seve just told me to do my best. He said I was the only one (of three) who could play my way on to the team and he wished me well," revealed Olazabal, referring to Ballesteros's challenge of picking two "wild cards" from the triumvirate of Olazabal, Nick Faldo and Jesper Parnevik for next month's match in Valderrama.
"It is a delicate situation for Seve, and the team, and I would like to help him out by playing my way on. It would ease things for the captain. I need two solid tournaments and to finish pretty high in both of them. I'm the only one of the three players who is actually playing here and in Germany next week," said Olazabal. Pertinently, he added: "I know Nick Faldo hasn't played all that great this year, but he is still a great player with tremendous experience of what is needed in the Ryder Cup."
Olazabal, for his part, is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to make the team, without the need of a captain's pick, for Valderrama. "This is the biggest sporting event for Spain since the Olympics in 1992, and the Spanish people are very excited. Obviously, I want to be on the team and it is great that Igancio Garrido has played his way in. He is a fine, powerful player who has played really solid at the right time."
After missing the cut at the US PGA, Olazabal adopted a punishing practice schedule, and, including today's Pro-Am, will have played five full rounds before the European Open. "Practice rounds don't tell you too much, but I am happy enough. Physically, I am in the same situation, with my feet still bothering me, but I'm much better and I can feel an improvement."
It is almost as if Olazabal is making up for lost time by playing so much. Two years ago, before his injury laid him low and kept him out of golf until his return in the Dubai Calssic in February this year, Olazabal, who had missed the previous week's Ryder Cup win at Oak Hill, had planned to play at Straffan. It was a date he was unable to keep.
