JOSE MARIA Olazabal is backing Sergio Garcia to be part of his Ryder Cup team next September on the course where he became a world star. The two Spaniards are in Garcia’s home town of Castellon this week for the European Tour’s Castello Masters and Ryder Cup captain Olazabal talked up his countryman’s chances of being involved at Medinah Country Club in Chicago next year.
He said: “I am sure Sergio will be in the Ryder Cup. He’s got a special charisma and a solid game. He helps the team and he needs to enjoy himself on the course. His best motivation is to know what it feels like to be in the Ryder Cup without playing.”
Garcia, who finished second to Tiger Woods in the 1999 USPGA Championship at Medinah when he was just 19, quit golf for a while last season after slumping from second in the world to outside the top 75. Having failed to keep his Ryder Cup place, he agreed to be one of Colin Montgomerie’s vice-captains, but despite the winning experience the 31-year-old is adamant it was a one-off. “Unless I go as captain I won’t go back to the Ryder Cup if I’m not playing,” said Garcia, whose appearance this week is only his third in Europe all season.
He is back up to 49th in the rankings after coming seventh in the US Open, ninth in the British Open and 12th at the USPGA – but having lost a five-hole play-off to compatriot Pablo Larrazabal at the BMW International in June, his last victory is almost three years ago. “Without a doubt the Ryder Cup is one of my goals next year,” he added. “I want to make it – I don’t want to be chosen and leave that pick to the captain. As Jose Maria said, I know what it’s like to be there without playing and I don’t want to repeat the experience.”
Irish interest in the Castello Masters will focus on Peter Lawrie, Michael Hoey, Gareth Maybin, Damien McGrane and Shane Lowry.
CASTELLO MASTERS
Course: Club de Campo del Mediterraneo, Valencia, Spain.
Prize money: €2 million (€333,330 to the winner)
Length: 7.073 yards. Par: 71. Field: 144.
The layout: A short, tree-lined course with tight fairways and undulating greens with water in play on six holes.
Last Year: Matteo Manassero at the age of 17 years and 188 days cruised to a four-shot victory to become the youngest winner of the event.
Player suited to challenge: Straight hitter off the tee because if the fairway is missed ending up behind a large tree is likely.
Key attribute: Accuracy.
Weather forecast: Sunny.
On TV: Sky Sports 11am today.
