Olazabal hoping to impress as Ryder captaincy in his sights

JOSE-MARIA Olazabal this week begins his bid to convince Tour chiefs he should captain Europe in their Ryder Cup defence against the USA at Medinah in 2012.

The 44 year-old Spaniard stated after the Celtic Manor success that he would like the top job – provided his health was up to the task.

The man who won 11 of his 15 Ryder Cup matches in partnership with Seve Ballesteros and halved two others disappeared from the game in the mid-1990s as he battled rheumatoid polyarthritis in his feet. At one stage, the pain was so intense that he was unable to get out of bed.