GRADUALLY, it's becoming like no thing hag happened to the gifted Spaniard. After two comeback appearances on the European Tour, Jose Maria Olazabal is to compete in the Andersen Consulting World Championship at the Buckinghamshire on May 19th and 20th.

This is when Europe's eight challengers will for a place in the world finals of the $3.65 million tournament at Greyhawk GC, Arizona, on January 3rd and 4th, 1998. Olazabal has agreed to fill the gap left for an invitee in the European section in which he is drawn against Colin Montgomerie in the first round.

So the complete draw with seeding in parenthesis is: Colin Montgomerie (1) v Jose Maria Olazabal (8); Bernhard Langer (2) v Darren Clarke (7); Ian Woosnam (4) v Sam Torrance (5); Costantino Rocca (3) v Jesper Parnevik (6).

After an 18 month absence through illness, Olazabal returned to action in the Dubai Desert Classic in which he finished 12th, on March 2nd. Then, in a second tournament appearance, he was fourth in the Portuguese Open last Sunday.

Meanwhile, on the domestic scene, prize money on the PGA Irish Region this season will pass £500,000 for the first time, making it second only to Scotland among the seven regions in these islands. There are, in fact, no fewer, than 65 events on the fixture list, ranging from the 54 holes Great Northern Hotel Pro Am in Bundoran next month to the PGA Tankard and Patrons finals in late October.