Jose Maria Olazabal represented Europe seven times between 1987 and 2006, contributing to five victorious campaigns.
European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald isn’t just bringing back virtually the same team to Bethpage Black this month that won the Ryder Cup in 2023 at Rome. He’s also bringing back nearly the same backroom team as well, including Spain’s inspirational leader Jose Maria Olazabal.
A long-time member of the European Ryder Cup team, Olazabal represented Europe seven times between 1987 and 2006, contributing to five victorious campaigns.
In 2012, “Ollie” served as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain, leading the team to a dramatic and historic comeback victory at Medinah Country Club in what became known as the “Miracle at Medinah.” Olazabal, a two-time Masters champion and 2009 inductee into the World Golf Hall of Fame, will be returning as Ryder Cup vice captain following the success of the 2023 edition in Rome. Thanks to his longtime role as a Rolex ambassador, the 59-year-old Olazabal answered eight questions about the Ryder Cup, including why the biennial competition, which begins Sept. 26, is so meaningful to him.
Q: How has your perspective on the Ryder Cup evolved from player to captain?
JMO: Things are not the same. When you are a player, you’re focusing on the job at hand, trying to win points, trying to hit good shots. As years go by and you become part of the team in a different role, like vice captain or captain, you realize how much work goes on behind the scenes in terms of preparation, relationships and teamwork – not just for the players themselves, but all the people that work the weeks and months beforehand in order for everything to run smoothly. It changes your perspective of the game of golf and the roles that you play, but it makes you mature and appreciate all the things that need to be done for everything to run smoothly.
Q: How does it feel to return to the Ryder Cup as vice captain in 2025?
JMO: It’s a huge challenge. I could have said after Rome, that’s it, after winning over there, what else can you do? But at the same time, we all know how difficult it is to play away, to play on U.S. soil. We know that things are going to be difficult and Luke was not afraid of taking the role as captain. When he approached me with the idea of being part of the team as a vice captain, I had to think about it, because I know that the challenge that we’re facing is huge. It is one of the biggest challenges that you can face in golf. Having said that, what a wonderful challenge to have. That’s what we live for, to put ourselves into these kind of situations and try to overcome them and be successful. That’s why I’m here. I’m trying to help the team as much as I can, trying to encourage the team members and use the knowledge that I have so we can actually achieve the goal, which is winning away from home.
Q: You’ve been part of seven Ryder Cups. What makes this event so unique compared to individual major championships?
JMO: Through all these years, what I learned about the Ryder Cup is that you don’t play for yourself, rather you play for your teammates, family, friends, people that you don’t know, people that are watching from home, miles away. You play for a continent. You have to leave your egos away and realize that the team is the most important thing that week. If you do all that right, the Ryder Cup builds relationships that will last a lifetime. That’s why it is so close to me. I had the chance to share wonderful moments with my friend Seve [Ballesteros] and many other players through the years. The relationship and the bonds that are created during that week will last a lifetime.
Q: What personal memories stand out most to you from your Ryder Cup career?
JMO: There are three memories that come to mind. The first Ryder Cup that I played in 1987 with Seve. We played in the States at Muirfield Village and it was the first time Europe won on U.S. soil. That is maybe the most special one as a player.
Playing the Ryder Cup in Spain [in 1997], the first time the Ryder Cup was held on the continent in my home country. Seve was the captain there, so that was a special moment. And obviously 2012 as captain, winning that Ryder Cup. In my career, that was the icing on the cake. I owe a lot of gratitude to all those players that did a wonderful job that weekend, especially on that Sunday. I’ve told them that before. It was especially special for me to win that Ryder Cup, because it was the first time that Seve was not with us and it was a very emotional one.
Q: How do you see the evolution of the Ryder Cup since your first appearance in 1987?
JMO: It has become one of the biggest sporting events in the world. When I started in 1987, there was obviously media attention and it was important for us golfers, but through the years it has become a world event. Everyone sees the Ryder Cup all around the world and the media attention is huge. I think it’s the third most watched sporting event in the world. It’s a different beast now, it’s grown to such a degree that I think is just unstoppable. It’s a very unique event.
Q: What do you think makes the Ryder Cup such a unique and emotionally charged event in sports? And what are you particularly looking forward to for the U.S edition?
JMO: The intensity of the matches. There is no gray area, it is either white or black, you either win or lose. The game of golf is an individual sport, but this is truly the only team event that we play and for us, the Europeans, we combine different countries, different mentalities and we need to bond together. I think we’re very good at bonding together and that’s why we’ve been quite successful in the history of the Ryder Cup. As I said before, you don’t play for yourself, you play for your teammates, for your country, for a continent, people that you don’t know. It’s amazing sometimes, years after playing the Ryder Cup, maybe a kid will approach you with their father and the father would say to you “I was there when you played the Ryder Cup 15 or 20 years ago” and now the kid is there watching the Ryder Cup, which touches your heart. It is a very unique event.
Q: How do you balance the individual strengths of your players with building a cohesive team unit?
JMO: As an individual sport, you can be extremely good, but you have to make the team stronger, you have to be part of it. You have to bring the best out of the rest of your teammates. You have to leave your egos away and you have to open yourself and talk about your feelings and have trust in your playing partners to bring the best out of them. You have to show them that you have confidence in them and that you are pushing in the same direction. You all have the same goal and that goal is the most important thing that week. There are no individuals in the team and you have to perform as a team all week long.
Q: In one word, how would you describe the Ryder Cup?
JMO: Epic.
Read the full article here