Who's who: José María Olazábal

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: José María Olazábal

  • Name:

    José María Olazábal
  • Also known as:

    Ollie
  • Country:

    Spain
  • Born:

    Feb 5, 1966 in Hondarribia (Fuenterrabía in Spanish), Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Real (Royal) GC de San Sebastian, Fuenterrabía.
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer; golf course designer
  • Turned Pro:

    1985

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (2). British Amateur champion (1984). Ryder Cup player (1987, '89, '91, '93, '97, '99, 2006). Ryder Cup captain (2012). Total professional wins (31), including European Tour (23) and PGA Tour (6). European Tour Rookie of the Year (1986). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2009).

Golf course design

Olazábal has designed several golf courses, predominantly in Spain. The portfolio includes, but is not limited to: La Sella; Real (Royal) Sevilla; Barcelona (Masia Bach); Costa Ballena; Pula; Retamares; Mission Hills Olazabal course (China).

Did you know?

Olazábal has enjoyed much success over several years as a professional golfer. "Ollie" and his close friend for many years Seve Ballesteros combined to form a highly successful pairing in many Ryder Cup foursome and fourball matches. In later Ryder Cups, Olazábal teamed-up with Sergio Garcia, which resulted in another successful all-Spanish pairing.

Top tournaments won by José María Olazábal

2005
Europe
270 (-10)
€250,000
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Venue

Pula

Score

270 (-10)

Prize money

€250,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Mallorca Classic (Oct 20-23). Second-placed Sergio García (Esp), José Manuel Lara (Esp) and Paul Broadhurst (Eng) finished 5 shots behind Olazábal (Esp), who recorded his first European Tour win for 4 years. [Pula GC, Son Servera, Mallorca, Spain].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

$648,000

Title sponsor

Buick

Played as the Buick Invitational (Feb 7-10). Second-placed J.L. Lewis (USA) and Mark O'Meara (USA) finished 1 shot behind Olazábal (Esp), who recorded the last of his six PGA Tour wins. [South course, Torrey Pines, La Jolla, CA; earlier rounds on North & South courses].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

262 (-22)

Prize money

US$113,000

Title sponsor

Omega

Played as the Omega Hong Kong Open (Nov 29-Dec 2; Asian/Eurpn Trs event; Eurpn Tr 2002 season). Second-placed Henrik Bjørnstad (Nor) finished 1 shot behind Olazábal (Esp). [Hong Kong GC, Fanling; composite of 10 holes from Eden course, 8 from the New].

2001
Europe
268 (-12)
€216,660
Novotel Perrier

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

268 (-12)

Prize money

€216,660

Title sponsor

Novotel Perrier

Played as the Novotel Perrier Open de France (May 3-6). Second-placed Paul Eales (Eng), Constantino Rocca (Italy) and Greg Turner (NZ) finished 2 shots behind Olazábal (Esp). [Sangliers course, Lyon GC, Villette d'Anthon, nr Lyon].

2000
Europe
275 (-13)
€284,585
Benson & Hedges

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

€284,585

Title sponsor

Benson & Hedges

Played as the Benson & Hedges International Open (May 11-14). Second-placed Phillip Price (Wales) finished 3 shots behind Olazábal (Esp). [Brabazon course, The Belfry, Wishaw, nr Birmingham].

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

$720,000

Title sponsor

x

The Masters Tournament (63rd) (April 8-11). Second-placed Davis Love III (USA) finished 2 shots behind Olazabal (Esp), who recorded the second of his two wins in The Masters. [Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

269 (-19)

Prize money

£130,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Dubai Desert Classic (Feb 26-Mar 1; European Tour event). Second-placed Steve Allan (Aus) finished 3 shots behind José María Olazábal (Esp). [Majlis course, Emirates GC, Dubai, UAE].

1997
Europe
272 (-20)
£61,964
Turespana

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

272 (-20)

Prize money

£61,964

Title sponsor

Turespana

Played as the Turespana Masters - Open de Canarias (March 20-23). Second-placed Lee Westwood (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Olazábal (Esp). [Maspalomas Golf, Gran Canaria, Spain].

1995
Europe
256 (-24)
£35,000
Perrier

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

256 (-24)

Prize money

£35,000

Title sponsor

Perrier

Played as the Tournoi Perrier de Paris (April 27-30; Eurpn Tr unofficial money event; two-man teams playing fourball, foursome and greensome formats). Second-placed team of Australia (Mike Clayton & Peter O'Malley) finished 3 shots behind Spain (Seve Ballesteros & José María Olazábal). [Vert course, Saint Cloud GC, Garches, nr Paris].

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

279 (-9)

Prize money

$360,000

Title sponsor

x

The Masters Tournament (58th) (April 7-10). Second-placed Tom Lehman (USA) finished 2 shots behind Olazábal (Esp), who became the second Spaniard (after Seve Ballesteros) to wear the green jacket. This was the first of Olazábal's two Masters wins. [Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

£133,330

Title sponsor

Volvo

Played as the Volvo PGA Championship (May 27-30). Second-placed Ernie Els (RSA) finished 1 shot behind Olazábal (Esp), whose final round 65 secured his only win in the PGA Championship. [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].

1994
Europe
276 (-12)
£50,000
Turespana

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

£50,000

Title sponsor

Turespana

Played as the Turespana Open Mediterrania (March 3-6). Olazábal (Esp) beat Paul McGinley (Ire) with a 25-foot birdie putt at the second playoff hole, to win this event for the second time in three years. [GC Villamartin, Orihuela Costa, Alicante, Spain].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

269 (-11)

Prize money

$360,000

Title sponsor

NEC

Played as the NEC World Series of Golf (Aug 25-28). Second-placed Scott Hoch (USA) finished 1 shot behind José María Olazábal (Esp). [South course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

£66,600

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Open Mediterrania (Feb 27-Mar 1). Second-placed José Rivero (Esp) finished 2 shots behind Olazábal (Esp). [El Bosque GC, Chiva, nr Valencia, Spain].

1992
Europe
268 (-20)
£50,000
Turespana

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

268 (-20)

Prize money

£50,000

Title sponsor

Turespana

Played as the Turespana Open de Tenerife (Feb 20-23). Second-placed Miguel Ángel Martín finished 5 shots behind José Maria Olazábal (Esp). [Golf del Sur, nr Los Abrigos, Tenerife].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

10 pts

Prize money

$198,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as The International (Aug 15-18; modified stableford format). Second-placed Bob Lohr (USA), Ian Baker-Finch (Aus) and Scott Gump (USA) finished 3 points behind Olazábal (Esp). [Castle Pines GC, Castle Rock, nr Denver, Colorado].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

£50,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Open de Catalonia (March 14-17). Second-placed David Feherty (N.Ire) finished 6 shots behind Olazábal (Esp), who recorded his tenth European Tour win. [GC Bonmont, nr Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

265 (-19)

Prize money

£75,000

Title sponsor

Epson

Played as the Epson Grand Prix of Europe (Sept 19-22). Second-placed Mark James (Eng) finished 9 shots behind Olazábal (Esp). [Old course, St Pierre Hotel & CC, Chepstow, S Wales].

1990
Europe
279 (-9)
£58,330
Benson & Hedges

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

279 (-9)

Prize money

£58,330

Title sponsor

Benson & Hedges

Played as the Benson & Hedges International Open (May 4-7). Second-placed Ian Woosnam (Wales) finished 1 shot behind Olazábal (Esp). [Nicklaus course, St Mellion Intl Resort, St Mellion, Cornwall].

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

¥23million

Title sponsor

Visa

Played as the VISA Taiheiyo Masters (Nov 8-11; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Bernhard Langer (Ger) and Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) finished 5 shots behind defending champion Olazabal (Esp). [Gotemba course, Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba, Shizuoka, Jpn].

1990
Europe
Saint-Nom-La-Breteche
269
£69,970
Lancome

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Venue

Saint-Nom-La-Breteche

Score

269

Prize money

£69,970

Title sponsor

Lancome

Played as the Trophee Lancome. Won by Jose Maria Olazabal (Esp). [Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche, nr Paris, France].

1990
Europe
282 (-6)
£57,883
Carroll & Co.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

282 (-6)

Prize money

£57,883

Title sponsor

Carroll & Co.

Played as Carroll's Irish Open. Second-placed Frank Nobilo (NZ) and Mark Calcavecchia (USA) finished 3 shots behind Olazábal (Esp). [Portmarnock GC, nr Dublin, Ireland].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

262 (-18)

Prize money

$198,000

Title sponsor

NEC

Played as the NEC World Series of Golf (Aug 23-26). Second-placed Lanny Wadkins (USA) finished 12 shots behind first-time PGA Tour winner José María Olazábal (Esp). [South course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

203 (-13)

Prize money

¥16million

Title sponsor

Visa

Played as the VISA Taiheiyo Masters (Nov 9-12; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) and Isao Aoki (Jpn) finished 3 shots behind first-time Japan Tour winner Olazabal (Esp). Reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather. [Gotemba course, Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba, Shizuoka, Jpn].

1989
Europe
275 (-13)
£33,330
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

£33,330

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural Tenerife Open (Feb 23-26; Eurpn Tr season opener). Second-placed José Maria Cañizares (Esp) and David Gilford (Eng) finished 3 shots behind José Maria Olazábal (Esp), who recorded his fifth European Tour win. [Golf del Sur, nr Los Abrigos, Tenerife].

1989
Europe
277 (-11)
£45,830
KLM

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

£45,830

Title sponsor

KLM

Played as the KLM Dutch Open (July 27-30). Olazábal (Esp) beat Ronan Rafferty (N.Ire) with a double-bogey 6 at the ninth playoff hole, versus Rafferty's triple-bogey 7. Roger Chapman (Eng) was eliminated at the first playoff hole. This was the longest "sudden-death" playoff in European Tour history at the time. [Kennemer G&CC, Zandvoort, Netherlands].

1988
Europe
269 (-15)
£33,330
Volvo

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

269 (-15)

Prize money

£33,330

Title sponsor

Volvo

Played as the Volvo Belgian Open (June 16-19). Second-placed Mike Smith (USA) finished 4 shots behind Olazábal (Esp), who recorded his third European Tour win. [Royal Bercuit GC, Grez-Doiceau, Walloon Brabant; at the time known as Bercuit GC].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

279 (-9)

Prize money

£47,770

Title sponsor

x

Played as the German Masters (Sept 22-25). Second-placed Des Smyth (Ire) and Anders Forsbrand (Swe) finished 2 shots behind Olazábal (Esp). [Stuttgarter GC Solitude, Mönsheim, nr Stuttgart].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

262 (-26)

Prize money

£43,846

Title sponsor

Ebel

Played as the Ebel European Masters Swiss Open. Second-placed Anders Forsbrand (Swe) finished 3 shots behind Olazabal (Esp). [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].

1986
Awards
£136,775
see Score
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Venue

Score

£136,775

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Eurpn Tr

Olazabal (Esp) won the European Tour 1986 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award as the leading first-season player. Olazabal finished second on the Tour's Order of Merit, with earnings of £136,775.

1986
Europe
273 (-15)
£29,150
Sanyo

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

£29,150

Title sponsor

Sanyo

Played as the Sanyo Open (Oct 9-12). Second-placed Howard Clark (Eng) finished 3 shots behind José María Olazábal (Esp), who recorded his second European Tour win. [Real (Royal) GC El Prat, Terrassa, Barcelona]. This event was replaced on the 1987 European Tour schedule by the Barcelona Open, also at El Prat GC; however the 1987 event was cancelled due to a waterlogged course.

Category

Amateur

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Venue

Formby

Score

5 & 4

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

R&A

The Amateur Championship (89th). Olazabal (Esp) beat Colin Montgomerie (Scot) 5 and 4 in the final. [Formby GC, Formby, Merseyside].

Category

Amateur

Winner (holder)

Olazabal, Jose Maria

Score

6 & 5

Prize money

amateur

Title sponsor

R&A

Played as the Boys Amateur Championship. Olazabal (Esp) beat Marc Pendaries (Fra) 6 and 5 in the 36-hole final match. [Glenbervie GC, nr Falkirk, Scotland].

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