Olazabal set for Paris comeback

Twice Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal finally looks set for his first tournament since last October.

Olazabal, who has been battling rheumatic pains for years, has entered next week's French Open in Paris and manager Sergio Gomez said today: "He really wants to be there.

"He still can't practise as much as he would like to, but he feels he is progressing. He is much better than two or three months ago and, as he said to me, he is enjoying golf again."

The 44-year-old Spaniard, who had 18 months out of the game in the mid-1990s and feared a future in a wheelchair then, played only seven European Tour events three seasons ago and just six in 2008.

Olazabal managed 16 last year and finished 14th in the Castello Masters eight months ago, but has been seen only in pro-ams since then. He finished first in the one on the eve of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.