Sunday, September 24, 2006

Jose Maria and the Cup

Ryder-Olazabal enjoys second successful Cup comeback
Sun Sep 24, 2006 8:48 PM BST

By Norman Dabell

STRAFFAN, Ireland, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Jose Maria Olazabal's singles success against world number two Phil Mickelson on Sunday rounded off a memorable and emotional week for the Spaniard who was once warned he might never walk again.

Olazabal's defeat of Mickelson made it three points out of three as a new Spanish team was born to take over his Ryder Cup record partnership with Seve Ballesteros as he made two of his points with Sergio Garcia in the fourballs.

"I think Spain has been well represented all through the years, well before Sergio and I," Olazabal told the European team news conference.

"There has been Seve, Garrido, Pinero, Rivero, Canizares, many Spanish players have played on the European side.

"It's not my first time!

"We (himself and Garcia) are happy to follow the trend. The more you play, the more you realise what a unique event this is.

"Hopefully we do great things for golf in Spain but the most important thing is to support the team and contribute."

Olazabal, who was tearful after his opening success with Garcia on Friday, spoke of the emotion he felt at making his Ryder Cup comeback after an absence of seven years.

"To hear the crowd on the first tee on Friday and get the old feelings was very special," he said.

"The Ryder Cup has always been very emotional. I think back to when I couldn't even go out because I couldn't walk even a few steps."

Olazabal, whose 11 pairs victories with Ballesteros and two halves is a record, had to withdraw from the 1995 Ryder Cup because of rheumatoid polyarthritis in the joints of his right foot.

Having made one winning return to the Ryder Cup fold in 1997, Olazabal, who had not played since the 1999 match the Europeans lost at Brookline, has done it again.

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