Stunned Olazabal admits he’s ‘devastated’ by retirement of ‘the master’

JOSE Maria Olazabal, the former Ryder Cup partner of Seve Ballesteros, said he was “devastated” by the 50-year-old’s retirement from golf.

Olazabal, who makes a decision on Tuesday on whether he has made enough of a recovery from a knee injury to play in the Open at Carnoustie, added that he had no idea the announcement was coming.

And that despite the two of them being in conversation last Thursday, presumably after Ballesteros was said on Spanish television to have attempted suicide, something he strenuously denies.

“It a very special day,” said Olazabal, who with Ballesteros won 11, halved two and lost only two games against the Americans, “because what Seve means for golf, in Europe mainly, nobody from a later generation will understand.

“He has been a real inspiration for me, the best friend I’ve had in my career. He was really the master.”

On winning back his Ryder Cup after seven years last September Olazabal recalled the start of his partnership with Ballesteros.

“People can say as many things as they want to you before your first game, but they can’t prepare you for what it’s actually like. On the first tee I was shaking like a leaf like never before.

“I didn’t really expect it to be that bad. You believe you are going to calm yourself like you have for other important rounds you’ve played in the past. But a first Ryder Cup is really very special.”

Thankfully, Olazabal discovered that the first tee is where the feeling is at its worst and once into the match your nerves settle a bit – especially when you have at your side a man like none you have ever seen before.

“I was mesmerised. Seve had a will to win and determination that I don’t think has ever been matched. There were times you just had to wonder what he was made of. He took all the pressure off me, telling me not to worry if I hit into the rough or the trees or whatever.’’

The last time they played together in the Ryder Cup was at The Belfry in 1993 and fittingly they ended with a win.

George O’Grady, chief executive of the European Tour, said: “What a privilege it has been to witness the phenomenal career of Seve Ballesteros.

“He is quite probably the most iconic golfer of our era and without question he inspired millions to play the game.

“The European Tour would not be where it is today without Seve’s outstanding contribution as a player and, of course, as a team member and captain in the Ryder Cup.

“We wish him every success as he starts the next chapter of his life. We look forward to continuing to support him.”

Five-time Open champion Peter Thomson said: “He was one of the two greatest natural golfers I ever saw, the other one was Sam Snead, and I give him the praise that he was the most gifted young golfer that I’d come across. When he did mature he was pretty good, as good as anyone of his time.”

Britain’s Luke Donald, who was only 17 when Ballesteros last made the cut in an Open in 1995, said: “Seve was definitely someone I watched a lot growing up.

“Between him and Nick Faldo, those were the two golfers that were really at the height of their career just as I was starting to play golf and I watched a lot on TV.

“I’ve modelled my game a little bit on Faldo’s, I tried to stay away from Seve’s, trying to keep it straighter than he did!”