Pádraig says Olazabal ideal captain for Europe

THE worst kept secret in golf will be ‘revealed’ next week when Jose Maria Olazabal is named as European captain for the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah in Chicago, and Pádraig Harrington believes it’s the perfect choice.

The Spaniard has served as vice-captain under Nick Faldo in Valhalla in 2008 and again under the victorious Colin Montgomerie at Celtic Manor last year and is expected to be unveiled prior to next week’s European Tour event in Abu Dhabi.

Olazabal has been indelibly linked with the Ryder Cup ever since his debut in 1987 and forged the most successful partnership in its history alongside compatriot and another former captain Seve Ballesteros.