Olazabal named ryder cup captain

Jose Maria Olazabal is set to be named the 2012 Ryder Cup captain in a press conference in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

The Spaniard is the overwhelming choice of the players’ committee which makes the decision.

It’s also emerged from the USA that Davis Love III will captain the American team at Medinah next year.

Despite his continuing battle with rheumatism – he played only three events last year – Olazabal’s character, record and standing in the game all point to him being an outstanding leader of the side.

“He is an honourable, incredible man – I haven’t heard one person who wouldn’t love to see him as captain,” said European Tour chief executive George O’Grady long before the players’ committee gathered to discuss the job.

Winner of seven caps as a player, Olazabal made his debut at Muirfield Village in 1987 alongside compatriot Seve Ballesteros.

They won their first three games together as Europe triumphed on American soil for the first time and went on to be beaten only twice in 15 contests.

His last appearance was at the K Club near Dublin five years ago – he won all his three games there – but after that he served as Nick Faldo’s assistant in Louisville and then joined Montgomerie’s backroom team at Celtic Manor last October.

Olazabal might well have been in charge there, but delayed throwing his hat into the ring.

The fact that he is taking part in the circuit’s Middle East swing – it begins in Abu Dhabi this week, then moves on to Bahrain, Qatar and Dubai, where Tiger Woods is in the field – shows he is intent on a bigger involvement this season.

Love played on six Ryder Cup teams, winning the pivotal point at The Belfry in 1993. He played on only one other winning team, the great American comeback in 1999 at Brookline. His career record was 9-12-5.

Love was a vice captain in October when Europe won back the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.

“The only thing I learned on the outside, instead of playing, is we cared too much,” Love said in an interview over the weekend. “We try too hard. I’ve talked to a couple of players about how we can treat this like another tournament. But it’s hard. It’s the same thing at the Masters and U.S. Open. How do we figure out how to treat it like another tournament and be more prepared to just play golf?”

Love has known all along he eventually would be a Ryder Cup captain, and he joked about trying to do it the same year as Darren Clarke. But he has some history with Olazabal, one of the most respected figures in golf.

Love faced Olazabal in his very first Ryder Cup match in 1993. He teamed with Tom Kite for a 2-and-1 victory over Olazabal and Seve Ballesteros, the most successful European team ever. That was his only win, though. Olazabal won the other four times they played in team matches at The Belfry and at Valderrama in 1997.

Love, whose lone major was the 1997 PGA Championship, has 20 wins on the PGA Tour, trailing only Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh among players from his generation.

“He’ll be a great captain,” Steve Stricker said. “He’s played on a ton of these teams, and I remember when he had that deciding point. He’s still out here playing and he’s involved with all the guys.”

Love began his 2011 season at the Sony Open, where he shot in the 60s all four rounds and tied for ninth. He said he already had contemplated how he would juggle playing golf with Ryder Cup captain duties, not to mention his role running the McGladrey Classic in the Fall Series that is played in his Sea Island community.

He also said he had spoken to past captain Corey Pavin about how much time was required to promote the event.

“This year will be easy,” Love said. “There’s not a lot to do except to make Freddie’s Presidents Cup team.”

Love has not played in any cup since the 2005 Presidents Cup. Fred Couples returns as U.S. captain for this year’s event in Australia.