José María Olazábal
José María Olazábal | |
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— Golfer — | |
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Personal information | |
Full name | José María Olazábal Manterola |
Nickname | Ollie |
Born |
Hondarribia, Gipuzkoa, Spain | 5 February 1966
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
Weight | 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st) |
Nationality |
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Residence | Hondarribia, Gipuzkoa, Spain |
Career | |
Turned professional | 1985 |
Current tour(s) |
PGA Tour (joined 2001) European Tour (joined 1986) |
Professional wins | 30 |
Number of wins by tour | |
PGA Tour | 6 |
European Tour | 23 (T8th all time) |
Japan Golf Tour | 2 |
Best results in major championships (wins: 2) | |
Masters Tournament | Won: 1994, 1999 |
U.S. Open | T8: 1990, 1991 |
The Open Championship | 3rd/T3: 1992, 2005 |
PGA Championship | T4: 2000 |
Achievements and awards | |
World Golf Hall of Fame | 2009 (member page) |
Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year | 1986 |
Prince of Asturias Award | 2013 |
José María Olazábal Manterola (Spanish pronunciation: [xoˈse maˈria olaˈθaβal manteˈrola], Basque: [olas̻abal]; born 5 February 1966) is a Spanish professional golfer who has enjoyed success on both the European Tour and the PGA Tour, and has won two major championships.
In 2012 he captained Europe's Ryder Cup team to a narrow victory over the USA, which seemed improbable at the start of the final day's play when the Europeans trailed 10–6. They came back to win 14½–13½. Olazábal was very emotional with the win, saying in an interview that that was his number one happiest golf moment and happiest moment of his life. The win was inspired by his late friend Seve Ballesteros, to whom he dedicated the win.[1]
Career
Olazábal was born in Hondarribia, a town in the Basque autonomous region of Spain. He burst onto the golf scene in 1984 as a junior, winning the (British) Amateur Championship aged 18. Then, in his rookie professional season of 1986, he finished second on the European Tour Order of Merit aged 20. In his first nine seasons, he finished in the top 10 every year except two, including another second place in 1989, and he was a regular member of the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking (over 300 weeks).[2] Had Olazábal beaten Ian Woosnam at The Masters in 1991 (he finished second) he would have become the World No. 1. He was unable to play in 1996 due to a foot injury but he recovered and recorded further top 10 placings in the Order of Merit in 1997, 1999 and 2000. He has more than 20 career titles on this tour.
Both of Olazábal's majors have come in the United States, namely The Masters in 1994 and 1999. These wins make him the only winner of the Amateur Championship since World War II to have gone on to win a professional major. He has been highly placed in The Masters on a number of other occasions. Olazábal shares the record for the lowest round in the PGA Championship (63), which he accomplished in the third round at Valhalla Golf Club in 2000.[3]
In 2001 Olazábal began to play on the PGA Tour, while also retaining his membership of the European Tour. He had a solid year on the PGA Tour in 2002, when he won nearly $2 million and came 24th on the money list, but has not duplicated the success he enjoyed in Europe in the 1980s and 1990s. He has six career PGA Tour titles, five of them won before he became a full member of the Tour. In 2006 he made a return to the top 15 of the world rankings.
![](../I/m/Jos%C3%A9_Maria_Olazabal_(in_the_bunker).jpg)
Olazábal was a member of Europe's Ryder Cup team seven times from 1987 to 2006. He formed a famous partnership with fellow Spaniard Seve Ballesteros that spanned many years,[4] and formed a similarly successful partnership with Sergio García in 2006. Olazábal captained the European team at the 2012 Ryder Cup for the defence of the trophy at Medinah Country Club in Illinois.[5] After his team went down 10–6 going into the last day, he helped engineer the greatest ever Ryder Cup comeback with the European team eventually winning by 14½ points to 13½. He confirmed afterwards that he would not consider himself for captaincy in the next Ryder Cup.
Olazábal holds the world record distance for a completed putt. During the 1999 European Ryder Cup team's Concorde flight to the United States, he holed a putt which travelled the full length of the cabin. The ball was in motion for 26.17s, during which time the Concorde, at 1,270 mph, traveled 9.232 miles, beating U.S. golfer Brad Faxon's previous record of 8.5 miles, set in 1997.[6]
Olazábal was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2009 with 56% of the vote on the international ballot.[7]
On June 19, 2013, Olazábal was presented with Spain's most prestigious sporting honor, the Prince of Asturias Award in recognition of his accomplishments as a player and leader of the 2012 Ryder Cup team. He is only the second golfer to be honored since the awards were launched in 1987; Seve Ballesteros was honored in 1989.[8]
Amateur wins (7)
- 1983 Italian Open Amateur Championship, Spanish Open Amateur Championship, Boys Amateur Championship
- 1984 The Amateur Championship, Belgian International Youths Championship, Spanish Open Amateur Championship
- 1985 British Youths Amateur Championship
Professional wins (30)
European Tour wins (23)
|
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 Sep 1986 | Ebel European Masters Swiss Open | −26 (64-66-66-66=262) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
2 | 12 Oct 1986 | Sanyo Open | −15 (69-68-69-67=273) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
3 | 19 Jun 1988 | Volvo Belgian Open | −15 (67-69-64-68=269) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
4 | 25 Sep 1988 | German Masters | −9 (69-72-70-68=279) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
5 | 26 Feb 1989 | Tenerife Open | −13 (69-68-68-70=275) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
6 | 30 Jul 1989 | KLM Dutch Open | −11 (67-66-68-76=277) | Playoff | ![]() ![]() |
7 | 7 May 1990 | Benson & Hedges International Open | −9 (69-68-69-73=279) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
8 | 24 Jun 1990 | Carroll's Irish Open | −6 (67-72-71-72=282) | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
9 | 16 Sep 1990 | Lancome Trophy | −11 (68-66-70-65=269) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
10 | 17 Mar 1991 | Open Catalonia | −17 (66-68-64-73=271) | 6 strokes | ![]() |
11 | 22 Sep 1991 | Epson Grand Prix of Europe | −19 (64-68-67-66=265) | 9 strokes | ![]() |
12 | 23 Feb 1992 | Turespana Open de Tenerife | −20 (71-68-66-63=268) | 5 strokes | ![]() |
13 | 1 Mar 1992 | Open Mediterrania | −12 (68-71-69-68=276) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
14 | 6 Mar 1994 | Turespana Open Mediterrania | −12 (70-65-71-70=276) | Playoff | ![]() |
15 | 10 Apr 1994 | Masters Tournament | −9 (74-67-69-69=279) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
16 | 30 May 1994 | Volvo PGA Championship | −17 (67-68-71-65=271) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
17 | 23 Mar 1997 | Turespana Masters Open de Canarias | −20 (70-67-68-67=272) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
18 | 1 Mar 1998 | Dubai Desert Classic | −19 (69-67-65-68=269) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
19 | 11 Apr 1999 | Masters Tournament | −8 (70-66-73-71=280) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
20 | 14 May 2000 | Benson & Hedges International Open | −13 (75-68-66-66=275) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
21 | 6 May 2001 | Open de France | −12 (66-69-66-67=268) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
22 | 2 Dec 2001 | Omega Hong Kong Open^ | −22 (65-69-64-64=262) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
23 | 23 Oct 2005 | Mallorca Classic | −10 (69-65-70-66=270) | 5 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
^ Co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour
PGA Tour wins (6)
|
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 26 Aug 1990 | NEC World Series of Golf | −18 (61-67-67-67=262) | 12 strokes | ![]() |
2 | 18 Aug 1991 | The International | 10 points (5-6-8-10) | 3 points | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
3 | 10 Apr 1994 | The Masters | −9 (74-67-69-69=279) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
4 | 28 Aug 1994 | NEC World Series of Golf | −11 (66-67-69-67=269) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
5 | 11 Apr 1999 | The Masters | −8 (70-66-73-71=280) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
6 | 10 Feb 2002 | Buick Invitational | −13 (71-72-67-65=275) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
PGA Tour playoff record (0–2)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2005 | BellSouth Classic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mickelson won with birdie on fourth extra hole Olazábal eliminated with par on third hole Atwal and Jobe eliminated with par on first hole |
2 | 2006 | Buick Invitational | ![]() ![]() |
Woods won with par on second extra hole Green eliminated with par on first hole |
Japan Golf Tour wins (2)
- 1989 Visa Taiheiyo Masters
- 1990 Visa Taiheiyo Masters
Other wins (1)
- 1995 Tournoi Perrier de Paris (with Seve Ballesteros)
Major championships
Wins (2)
Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1994 | Masters Tournament | 1 shot deficit | −9 (74-67-69-69=279) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
1999 | Masters Tournament (2) | 1 shot lead | −8 (70-66-73-71=280) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
Results timeline
Tournament | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | DNP | CUT | DNP | CUT | DNP | T8 |
U.S. Open | DNP | DNP | DNP | T68 | DNP | T9 |
The Open Championship | CUT | T25 LA | T16 | T11 | T36 | T23 |
PGA Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT | DNP | CUT |
Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 13 | 2 | T42 | T7 | 1 | T14 | DNP | T12 | T12 | 1 |
U.S. Open | T8 | T8 | CUT | CUT | CUT | T28 | DNP | T16 | T18 | WD |
The Open Championship | T16 | T80 | 3 | CUT | T38 | T31 | DNP | T20 | T15 | CUT |
PGA Championship | T14 | CUT | CUT | T56 | T7 | T31 | DNP | CUT | CUT | CUT |
Tournament | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | CUT | T15 | 4 | T8 | 30 | CUT | T3 | T44 | CUT | CUT |
U.S. Open | T12 | CUT | T50 | CUT | DNP | DNP | T21 | T45 | DNP | DNP |
The Open Championship | T31 | T54 | CUT | CUT | DNP | T3 | T56 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | T4 | T37 | 69 | T51 | CUT | T47 | T55 | CUT | DNP | DNP |
Tournament | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | DNP | CUT | CUT | T50 | T34 | CUT |
U.S. Open | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT | DNP | DNP |
The Open Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | DNP | CUT | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP |
LA = Low amateur
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10
Summary
Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 27 | 18 |
U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 18 | 11 |
The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 21 | 16 |
PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 10 |
Totals | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 32 | 87 | 55 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 9 (1994 Open Championship – 1997 Open Championship)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)
Team appearances
Amateur
- Eisenhower Trophy (representing Spain): 1982, 1984
- Jacques Léglise Trophy (representing Continental Europe): 1982, 1984
- St Andrews Trophy (representing Continental Europe): 1984
Professional
- Alfred Dunhill Cup (representing Spain): 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999 (winners), 2000 (winners)
- Four Tours World Championship (representing Europe): 1987, 1989
- Ryder Cup (representing Europe): 1987 (winners), 1989 (tied; retained trophy), 1991, 1993, 1997 (winners), 1999, 2006 (winners), 2012 (winners, non-playing captain)
- World Cup (representing Spain): 1989, 2000
- Seve Trophy (representing Continental Europe): 2000 (winners), 2002, 2003, 2005 (playing captain), 2013 (winners, non-playing captain)
- Royal Trophy (representing Europe): 2009 (non-playing captain), 2012 (playing captain)
See also
References
- ↑ Williams, Richard (1 October 2012). "Europe seal Ryder Cup win with comeback of epic proportions". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ↑ "69 Players Who Have Reached The Top-10 In World Ranking" (PDF). Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
- ↑ Kelley, Brent. "PGA Championship Records". About.com. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
- ↑ Critchley, Bruce (8 September 2008). "Top Ryder Cup pairings". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
- ↑ "Jose Maria Olazabal named captain". ESPN. Associated Press. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
- ↑ Donegan, Lawrence (21 September 1999). "Hope that the US can be put to Ryder flight". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
- ↑ "Olazabal to be inducted in Hall of Fame". USA Today. Associated Press. 20 May 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
- ↑ "Prince of Asturias awards: Olazabal follows in Seve's footsteps". EuroNews. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
External links
- José María Olazábal at the European Tour official site
- José María Olazábal at the PGA Tour official site
- José María Olazábal at the Japan Golf Tour official site
- José María Olazábal at the Official World Golf Ranking official site
- Golden Heart Award granted by Spanish Heart Foundation
Awards | ||
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Preceded by Iker Casillas & Xavi |
Prince of Asturias Award for Sports 2013 |
Succeeded by New York City Marathon |