Olazabal turns down Ryder Cup chance

Jose Maria Olazabal today revealed he had turned down the chance to be part of Europe’s backroom team at this year’s Ryder Cup.

After slumping to a third-round 77 in the Benson & Hedges International Open at The Belfry - the course where America defend the trophy in September - Olazabal said captain Sam Torrance had spoken to him eight months ago after deciding not to give him a wild card.

‘‘I declined. It’s going to be tough to be here and not play,’’ said the Spanish star, winner of over £1million already this year. ‘‘Most probably I will be home watching on TV. It’s more relaxing.’’

Olazabal added, however, he was available if Torrance wanted to chat to him about anything in the build-up to the match, which was postponed for 12 months in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

‘‘I don’t think he will need to speak to me, though. Sam has a lot of experience.’’

The decision was taken to keep to the same 24 players for this year’s match and that meant no place for Olazabal, who missed out to Sergio Garcia and Jesper Parnevik in the battle for the captain’s two picks.

Helping Torrance instead will be vice-captain Ian Woosnam, Mark James and Swede Joakim Haeggman.

James, captain in Boston in 1999, has been brought back on board after originally resigning as a vice-captain because of controversy over his book.

Olazabal is third on both the American and European money lists this season, winning in California in February and then finishing fourth in the Masters last month.

The 36-year-old blamed tiredness for his poor showing this week.

He made the cut with nothing to spare at two over, then went to the turn in 40 this morning.

After three-putting the first for a double bogey six he four-putted the short seventh for another.

‘‘I can’t remember the last time I four-putted,’’ he said.

Driving into water on the 10th, reduced from 311 yards to 261 to tempt players into going for the green, cost him another shot and he also bogeyed the 16th before grabbing a birdie at the long next.

He is missing next week’s Deutsche Bank-SAP Open in Germany, even though the prize money is a whopping £1.7million and Tiger Woods is defending the title.

‘‘I will see if I can charge my batteries,’’ said Olazabal. ‘‘I’ve played a lot this year.’’

He will be back in Britain for the Volvo PGA championship at Wentworth in two weeks.