Jose Maria Olazabal Question and Answer

What is your all-time favourite Ryder Cup memory?
There are many more than one but I’d say two in particular. First would be Muirfield Village in 1987, when I played with Seve. The whole experience of that first Ryder Cup, not knowing what it was all about, playing with Seve, the crowds, the noise – that was very special, and we won then for the first time in America. The second would be the hug that Darren [Clarke] and I had on the 17th green at the K Club in 2006. That was after I had won my singles and of course he had been through so much that week [following the recent death of his wife].

Your worst Ryder Cup memory?
The saddest may be Brookline in 1999. We had a good advantage going into the singles but they managed to beat us. We didn’t play good enough on the last day. I’m saying this about the whole thing, not to do with what happened with me when Justin Leonard holed that long putt on the 17th green. It was very disappointing to lose.

What’s your favourite Seve Ryder Cup moment?
[Long pause.] I have to say there have been many. There have been so many experiences with him that are very personal. There were many times when it seemed we must lose but we somehow kept going and we won, and often it was because of the way Seve thought. The way his mind worked. For example, on the 2nd hole at Kiawah [in 1991] we were in the water off the tee and eventually we were lying five about 30 or 40 yards from the green. The Americans we pretty much in the same place as us, but in two shots. I said: “Seve, we’ve lost this hole. Let’s go to the next tee.” He said: “Wait a minute. Let’s see what sort of shot they play. There is water around the green. They might go in the water, then they might chip on to the green for five and take two putts for a seven. And we can make seven from here.” He never gave up. At the 9th hole one time at Muirfield Village, he blocked the tee shot and I pitched out so we were 100 yards from the green in two. The American ball was in the fairway on one. Before Freddie [Couples] played his shot, Seve said: “You know what? I think we are going to win this hole.” I said: “Why do you think that. The best we can do is make four.” But Freddie just mishit his shot and missed the green, Seve hit it to four feet, and we won the hole with a four. The way he thought about things was amazing, also the ways he battled. Most people do not feel the way he did.

What is the best shot you’ve ever hit?
Well, over 25 years I hope I have hit a few good ones, but obviously it is the context that matters. If I had to pick just one, I’d say it was the 6-iron I hit to three feet on the 16th hole on the last day of the Masters in 1999. Greg [Norman] and Davis Love were very close to me but that birdie gave me a crucial cushion to go on and win.

And the worst shot, the one you would have again if you could?
Well, not that it was a bad shot, but if I had a chance to hit it again, it would be the tee shot on the last hole at Augusta in 1991. I hit what I thought was a good drive, intending to cut it around the corner. But the ball bounced into the bunker and I ended up bogeying the hole. So that would be the shot I’d take again – not because it was a bad shot but I wish I had taken the 3-wood instead. I lost the Masters by a shot to Woosie.

What’s your favourite golf course?
Well, Augusta is one of them. I like Castle Pines, where we used to play The International, and I love Loch Lomond. Those three are perhaps my favourites.

What course haven’t you played that you would most like to?
There would be a few, I guess. Except for those courses that we play tournaments on, I haven’t played that many. I’d say Pine Valley is the one I would most love to play. People who have played it tell me it is simply an amazing golf course. Who would make up your perfect fourball? [Another long pause.] Well, Michael Jordan would be one. The thing with professionals, of course, is that I’ve played with most of them, but if I could then Ben Hogan would be another. And obviously Seve would have to be there.

Do you think Tiger will pass Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 major championships?
Yes, I believe that he will.

Which golfer do you admire the most?
I would say, again obviously, Seve, because of the way he played the game and his fighting spirit. And I’d have to say Tiger as well. I admire his work ethic, how well prepared he is mentally, and to win majors is very difficult and not only has he won so many, some of them have been by huge margins. So often he has hit the perfect shot or made the perfect putt at a crucial time. So that says a lot about him.

Which non-golf sports person do you most admire?
Michael Jordan, for the way he played basketball. [Rafa] Nadal, he is very impressive. But it’s anyone who gets to that level. I said Nadal but I could just as easily have said [Roger] Federer or Fernando Alonso. They need to have something special to achieve what they do achieve.

Outside of sports, whom do you most admire?
Mandela. I would have to say him. After all those years of being treated the way he was treated, to not have bad words to say about anybody, that is impressive. Also, of course, what he has achieved in his country.

OK, what is your favourite meal?
That is difficult to say. It’s pretty much everything. I think where I live, around San Sebastian, we are very spoiled. Everything is so good – the meat, the fish, everything – and I like it all, so I could not say one thing is my favourite over another.

Favourite drink?
I like red wine, especially I would say rioja.

Favourite movie?
The Last of the Mohicans is the one that sticks in my mind. And lately, Avatar.

What’s your favourite way to relax?
Mostly, I would say hunting. I go with my dad and a couple of friends. We walk up in the hills and it is totally peaceful and the views are fantastic. You smell the plants and enjoy the quiet. We stay in a small house that we rent as a base, get up early in the morning and go.

So after decades of underachievement, Spain won the World Cup. Was it an anti-climax or did it feel as good as you would have hoped?
No, it was no anti-climax. During the game, it was anxious because we were playing good football but we weren’t scoring, and Holland had chances to score. Casillas made one great save. But when Iniesta scored the goal, it was a great moment – very emotional.

If you could change one rule of golf, what would it be?
There are rules that I think that could be changed today. When the ball gets accidentally moved on the green, like with Padraig Harrington in Abu Dhabi, I think that sort of situation could be looked at. Overall, the rules are correct and the R&A and USGA do a good job, but the way things are now, with television, I think things about golf have changed. For instance, a player might go ahead to look at the green, see where the flag is, and while he is there, his ball might move a tiny bit for some reason. On TV, in slow motion and everything, you could see this had happened, but the player would have no way of knowing it. Maybe they should look at the situation today given the impact TV can have in this way.

If instead of merely being the European Ryder Cup captain in 2012, you were in charge of Europe, what one thing would you most want to do?
[A long pause again.] I think someone could do with taking control of what has been happening with the banks. We have been in this mess because nobody seems to know what has been going on and controlling the situation. What has happened in Ireland, Spain and so on has been terrible. It would be good to be able to do something about that.