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Jose Maria Olazabal

Jose Maria Olazabal

Hometown

Fuenterrabia

Spain

Year Inducted

2009

Inducted Category

Competitor

Birthdate

Feb 05,1966

Major Championships: 2

Masters Tournament: 1994, 1999

Additional PGA TOUR Wins: 4

1990: NEC World Series of Golf
1991: The International
1994: NEC World Series of Golf
2002: Buick Invitational

European Tour Wins: 21

1986: Ebel European Master Swiss Open, Sanyo Open
1988: Volvo Belgian Open, German Masters
1989: Tenerife Open, KLM Dutch Open
1990: Benson and Hedges International Open, Carroll’s Irish Open, Lancome Trophy
1991: Open Catalonia, Epson Grand Prix of Europe
1992: Turespana Open de Tenerife, Open Mediterrania
1994: Turespana Open Mediterrania, Volvo PGA Championship
1997: Turespana Masters Open de Canarias
1998: Dubai Desert Classic
2000: Benson and Hedges International Open
2001: Novotel Perrier Open de France
2002: Omega Hong Kong Open
2005: Mallorca Classic

Additional Wins: 13

1983: Italian Open Amateur Championship, Spanish Open Amateur Championship, Boys Amateur Championship
1984: The Amateur Championship, Belgian International Youths Championship, Spanish Open Amateur Championship
1985: British Youths Amateur Championship
1989: Visa Taiheiyo Masters
1990: Visa Taiheiyo Masters
1995: Tournoi Perrier De Paris
1999: Alfred Dunhill Cup
2000: Alfred Dunhill Cup, Vivendi Seve Trophy

Ryder Appearances: 7

Wins in bold

Player: 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2006
Captain: 2012

Awards & Honors:

Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award: 1986

Jose Maria Olazabal exhibited excellence wherever he played – seven wins as an amateur, 23 European Tour wins, two Japan Golf Tour victories and six PGA TOUR wins, including two Masters Tournaments. And that doesn’t include his stellar Ryder Cup record of 18 wins, five halfs and eight losses.

Olazabal was born in Fuenterrabia, Spain surrounded by golf the day after his home course opened. It seemed that he was just destined to play golf. At Real Golf Club de San Sebastian, Olazabal’s father was the greenskeeper. To teach his young son the game, his father cut down a three iron and took him out on the course late in the day. Spending much of his adolescent life developing his game on the golf course, he exhibited his talent by winning The Amateur Championship at the ripe old age of 18. Until Sergio Garcia won the Masters in 2017, Olazabal had been the only winner of The Amateur Championship to also win a Major Championship since Lawson Little won the U.S. Open in 1940.

“All men die, but not all men live.”

Olazabal’s seven wins as an amateur propelled him onto the European Tour. In his rookie season of 1986, Olazabal finished second in the Order of Merit by winning two events (in both events he shot in the 60s in all four rounds). He continued his success on the European Tour by going on to win 21 more times.

Olazabal put an exclamation point on his already impressive resume by winning his first Major Championship in 1994 at Augusta National. This victory was due, in large part, to his timely 30-foot eagle putt on the par-five 15th hole in the final round, opening up a two-stroke lead over Tom Lehman, which he maintained for the win. After winning, Olazabal said, “I’m very pleased, what can I say. It’s like a dream come true. I’ve been working hard for this the last two years, and I couldn’t be a happier man. This is the biggest thing that has happened in my career, it is difficult to put into words just what it means.” Before this win, Olazabal was only labeled as a potential great, but this triumph showed everyone his Major material.

In 1995 and 1996 Olazabal was crippled by intense pain in his feet that turned out to stem from problems in his back. He was forced to miss the 1996 season and thought that he would not be able to play again at a high level. But in 1999, Olazabal once again exhibited his superior talent and won his second Major at Augusta. That year he completed what was called “one of the greatest triumphs over adversity” and edged Davis Love III and Greg Norman, the favorite, by making birdie on three holes on the back nine after bogeying the first three on the front.

Fact

Olazabal teamed with Seve Ballesteros to form the ‘Spanish Armada’, the most successful Ryder Cup duo in history going 11-2-2 over 15 matches.

But perhaps his major claim to fame is his truly spectacular performances in the biennial Ryder Cup Matches. Olazabal played on European Ryder Cup teams in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999, and 2006, and captained the squad to victory in 2012. In his first Cup appearance, just 21 years old, Olazabal was paired with fellow Spaniard, Seve Ballesteros, who became his great friend and mentor. Playing with Ballesteros on the Ryder Cup team in 1987, 1989, 1991, and 1993, they teamed-up in 15 matches, in which their record was an astounding 11 wins, two losses, and two halves, the best two-man team performances in Ryder Cup history.

When Ballesteros retired from Ryder Cup play, Olazabal later formed a successful partnership with Sergio Garcia, another fellow Spainard, that extended his performance record to 18-8-5. In seven Ryder Cup appearances as a player, Olazabal helped the European Team to wins in 1987, 1997, and 2006.

Jose Maria Olazabal was originally inducted through the International category.