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Jose Maria Olazabal keen on Ryder Cup captaincy

Jose Maria Olazabal would agree to captain Europe’s 2010 Ryder Cup team if he was asked to take on the role, his manager said on Thursday.

“I truly believe he would say yes if he was offered the job,” Sergio Gomez told Reuters.

“His health condition over the last two years or so means he will probably not have many chances to qualify for the team (as a player).”

Olazabal previously said the 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor resort in Wales could be too soon to be captain and that he hoped to play in the biennial match against holders the United States.

The 42-year-old Spaniard, however, has been dogged by rheumatism since 2007 and suffered fatigue as a result of his medication.

Gomez was keen to stress that Olazabal had not been offered the captaincy but believes it could be a straight fight between the twice U.S. Masters champion and eight-times European number one Colin Montgomerie.

“According to the reports I see in the British media, I don’t think they are considering anyone else,” said Gomez.

“I think they have a tough decision.”

The European Tour’s tournament committee are set to appoint their captain at a meeting in Dubai on Wednesday.

January 22, 2009