Jose Maria and the Ryder Cup

The Canadian Press


STRAFFAN, Ireland (AP) - Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal were the most prolific partnership in Ryder Cup history, known as the "Spanish Armada" for going 11-2-2 in team matches.

So when Olazabal and Sergio Garcia won the only match that didn't go 18 holes on Friday, the question was obvious.

Is this the next great Spanish duo in the Ryder Cup?

"I'm running out of years," said the 40-year-old Olazabal, playing his first Ryder Cup since 1999. "We'll see. It was really nice to play with Sergio, and it was beautiful to be part of the team again."

Olazabal and Garcia never have been particularly close, so the pairing was peculiar. But they looked like long-lost brothers at The K Club, walking off greens with arms draped around shoulders, chattering away in Spanish as they helped each other read putts.

The golf was nothing short of splendid.

"He made things very simple for me," Garcia said.

Garcia opened the match with a long birdie putt, and Olazabal added birdie on the next hole. They never trailed in their fourball match against David Toms and Brett Wetterich, and the 26-year-old Garcia essentially closed them out with a 10-foot birdie on the 15th.

Olazabal said it was different playing with Ballesteros, one of the most creative players in history who won five majors and could get up-and-down from almost anywhere (including a parking lot at one British Open).

"Seve and I, we're pretty similar," said Olazabal, a two-time Masters champion. "When we're off the tee, we had to counteract with a lot of guts and heart. Playing alongside Sergio, it's like watching golf at its best. He played extremely well. He drove the ball very straight. He rarely missed a shot. I have to say, it's more relaxing. Not so much excitement, maybe."