Luke Donald has named Ryder Cup legend José María Olazábal as his fourth vice captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup which will probably be performed at Marco Simone Golf & Nation Membership in Rome subsequent month.
The 57-year-old Spaniard is synonymous with the biennial contest, having performed for Europe on seven events from 1987 to 2006; been a Vice Captain on three additional events, in 2008, 2010 and 2014; and, in fact, was captain for probably the most well-known European comeback victory of all time at Medinah in 2012.
In his seven Ryder Cup appearances as a participant, which yielded three wins and a tie in 1989 which noticed Europe retain the trophy, Olazábal performed 31 occasions, profitable 18 of these matches and returning 20½ factors in whole for the European trigger. His partnership with the late, nice Seve Ballesteros nonetheless stands head and shoulders above every other pairing within the contest’s historical past, the Spanish duo profitable 12 factors from their 15 outings collectively.
Olazábal joins the profitable European Ryder Cup Captain of 2018, Thomas Bjørn, in Donald’s backroom crew, alongside Italian Edoardo Molinari, a winner with Crew Europe in 2010, and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, a member of Olazábal’s profitable Medinah crew alongside Donald in 2012.
Olazábal stated: “With my earlier experiences within the Ryder Cup I’m clearly thrilled to be again concerned as soon as once more. I’m actually trying ahead to feeling that particular adrenaline circulate, the depth and the electrical energy that solely the Ryder Cup can convey – I’m actually excited to be a part of all of it once more.
“It was a really good shock to be requested by Luke. I didn’t count on it however I used to be delighted when the decision got here. My position would be the similar as the remainder of the Vice Captains, specifically to assist and assist Luke and the 12 gamers in any approach we will, to allow them to carry out at their finest and be capable of win that trophy again.
“I’ve no doubts that Luke will probably be an incredible Captain. He has performed within the Ryder Cup 4 occasions and received 4 occasions and he due to this fact is aware of what’s required to carry out effectively within the match.He’s nice on element and the way vital issues like crew spirit are. On high of all of that, he’s nonetheless very a lot a aggressive participant enjoying at a excessive stage. Due to that he’s near the gamers and he is aware of what they might want to carry out to their finest. My job as Vice-Captain will probably be to assist him obtain that.”
Donald stated: “If you consider José María Olázabal, you instantly consider the Ryder Cup. He brings superb ardour and I couldn’t be extra excited to have him on board. He was my captain once I final performed within the Ryder Cup – at Medinah in 2012 – and I completely loved enjoying for him that yr. He picked me to play primary within the singles and that was massively gratifying.
To know he had that respect and confidence in me to exit and lead Europe in such a pressurised final day setting meant lots and this feels, maybe, that I’m returning that favour a little bit bit, as I’ve an enormous quantity of confidence in him.
“Simply his mere presence brings vitality to any Ryder Cup setting and I noticed that first hand once I requested him to be concerned within the Hero Cup we staged in Abu Dhabi originally of this yr. He was such a giant a part of that week, being with the gamers and sharing tales with them of simply what the Ryder Cup is all about. Individuals discover when José María walks right into a room and you would see on the Hero Cup how a lot everybody revered him and admired him for all he’s accomplished within the sport. I couldn’t be extra excited to have him on my crew.”
