In the Rough

After missing out on the captaincy role for the Ryder Cup in 2010, Jose Maria Olazabal is set to become the number two for Colin Montgomerie.

After been confirmed as the captain for the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie confirmed that Olazabal would be part of his backroom staff at Celtic Manor.

However speaking in Dubai Jose clearly stated that “The only words we have spoken was when I got to the clubhouse and I congratulated Colin and he said, “we need to talk” that was all.”

It would seem then that Olazabal was giving Montgomerie a gentle hint regarding the fact he is yet to be confirmed as number two when the European team try to reclaim the Ryder Cup in 2010.

One interesting statement to come from Montgomerie though was the hint that he is looking to increase his captain picks for the ryder cup “We now get down to thinking about the qualification and if there are any changes to be done we’ll have a chat in May in Ireland and I want to put it to my leading players and see what they feel about it.”

Is this title we will be reading in all of Thursday’s papers?

Wednesday 28th January will see the European Committee headed by Danish golfer Thomas Bjorn announce the Ryder Cup Captain for the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales.

It had emerged after a meeting in Dubai a few weeks ago that the two front runners for the captaincy role were Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal.

Both players are still playing on the tour, are young and have never been captain before, which is believed to be the main reasons why they have come out as favourites for 2010. The other players considering the role were Ian Woosnam who would of been captain in his native Wales and Sandy Lyle the only remaining great European golfer of the 80’s and 90’s to never be European Ryder Cup Captain after Nick Faldo taking the role in 2008.

My personal opinion is Colin Montgomerie will get the Ryder Cup Captaincy in 2010 at the Celtic Manor and Jose Maria Olazabal will get the Ryder Cup Captaincy in 2012 when it goes back over the Atlantic.

This would make sense from a European point of view as Colin Montgomerie isn’t the most popular European player in America and has been on the receiving end of heckling over the years for his strong views and winding up of the American crowds both in the press and during his rounds of golf.

Where as Jose Maria Olazabal having been a previous winner of the Masters is a popular character on the American shores and maybe could even bring some Americans on board for supporting the European Ryder Cup team.

Former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance has backed the Welshman Ian Woosnam to be named Ryder Cup Captain for 2010 at Celtic Manor.

Woosnam himself has captained the European Ryder Cup Team to victory in the past at the K Club in Ireland 2006.

The European Tour Committee is due to discuss the matter in Abu Dhabi this week but a formal announcement is not due until May 2009.

The two favourites for the Captaincy are Jose Maria Olazabal and Sandy Lyle, with rumours being that Olazabal is the favourite. However Olazabal is still playing on the tour himself and could even play at the event should he have a good couple of years. Olazabal’s more realistic chance of captaincy and maybe the more sensible choice should be in America in 2012.

Olazabal himself captained a losing European team in the Royal Trophy in Bangkok over the weekend.

Former US Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin is set to be named the US Ryder Cup Captain for the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales.

The 49 Year old is set to replace Paul Azinger after he announced he would not be leading the team in the defence of the Trophy.

Pavin himself has played in three Ryder cups for the US and was part of the last victorious team to win in Europe at The Belfry in 1993.

Pavin also has experience as a Ryder Cup vice captain after he assisted Tom Lehman at the K Club in 2002.

Europe are also due to announce their Ryder Cup Captain with former Masters Champion Jose Maria Olazabal the favourite for the job.