It’s time for the skipper to inspire

As a player, José Maria Olazabal formed a dominant partnership with the late great Severiano Ballesteros that was second to none.

The foundations for their partnership lay in their fierce pride and determination. They did not come from an elite golfing environment. Their game was a game of imagination and flair “dug out” of the ground through relentless practice. They relied on the naked eye and “feel” to guide them through their apprenticeships but more than anything they relied on a bulletproof short game, which for the most part. masked the technical deficiencies in their games.

What set them apart from everyone else in the Ryder Cup was their intense desire and enthusiasm to beat the Americans. What made them so engaging to TV viewers was the sheer entertainment they brought to their performances.