Olazabal soldiers on despite Seve tragedy

Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal, in floods of tears after being told his great friend and former Ryder Cup partner Seve Ballesteros had died this morning, shot a 75 in the third round of the Spanish Open in Barcelona today.

The players wore black ribbons, the flags at El Prat were at half-mast and a minute’s silence was held at 2.45pm.

Tournament director Miguel Vidaor said: “All the players were devastated, but they have all gone out to play, which I am sure Seve would have wanted them to do.”

Sky Sports commentator Ross McFarlane added that he saw Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez – vice-captain to Ballesteros at Valderrama in 1997 – embrace before they began their third rounds.

Olazabal, playing with last year’s Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, even managed to cover the first five holes in one-under-par before falling back to three-over.

Montgomerie, whose side at Celtic Manor were inspired after Ballesteros spoke to them all on a speakerphone in the team room just before the match, had a 73 to be one-over.

South African Thomas Aiken led the event at eight-under after three holes.

Olazabal went to see Ballesteros two weeks ago. He was in a wheelchair at the time and on Thursday the 54-year-old’s daughter Carmen rang to say his condition had worsened.