Seve: Olazabal right captain choice
Seve Ballesteros believes European golf is "in very good hands" after Jose Maria Olazabal was named Ryder Cup captain.
Just as Olazabal was talking about "my proudest moment - a great day for me", the man who has inspired him his entire career spoke in glowing terms about his former partner. Ballesteros was the first person the 44-year-old rang after being asked to take over from Colin Montgomerie for the match in Chicago in September next year.
"This is a happy day for me," said Ballesteros, still under treatment for brain cancer after the discovery of a tumour over two years ago. "A wonderful announcement for European golf and some of the best news to start 2011. It goes without saying that Jose Maria's election is the right one because we will have a great leader heading a fantastic group of players."
He added: "I suppose that it will be very difficult for me to be in the United States and witness the captaincy of my dear friend, but I hope to watch it on TV and see his success.
"Jose Maria, I wish you the best of luck. Same as in the old times, you will have my support. You know better than anyone else what has to be done."
Olazabal's debut in 1987 came alongside Ballesteros and together they won 11 and lost only two of 15 games together.
"Seve was the biggest inspiration for me without a doubt," he said. "I didn't know what the Ryder Cup was all about before going to Muirfield Village. He took me under the wing - I saw the way he fought until the end and his passion for winning.
"It's something I've carried on, or at least I've tried to keep with me.
"I would love him to be able to travel to Chicago and stand alongside me, but being realistic I think those chances are very slim.
"We've already chatted for a few minutes about the Ryder Cup and some of the decisions he took when he was captain for 1997 at Valderrama. We joked a little bit too - it was very special to share those moments with him."
