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Tuesday, 05 September 2006 |
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Jose Maria Olazabal is going to risk losing his place in Europe's Ryder Cup team by skipping the last qualifying event. The double Masters champion is going quail-hunting in the hills near Toledo rather than playing in Munich. It is possible Olazabal could lose his automatic place in the team, just like Eamonn Darcy in 1991, who went fishing instead of playing in the German Open.
If Olazabal misses out on an automatic place, Europe captain Ian Woosnam could still select him as a wild card pick. But Olazabal claims he has not spoken to Woosnam for three months so it seems unlikely that he has been promised a place in the team. However, the Spaniard is convinced he will be better prepared to play against the Americans if he takes a break.
Olazabal said: "I've made my point clear. I've played that course in Munich before. I shoot 15 under or something and end up 30th or 40th. It's a birdie parade and I'm tired. I've tried hard and I need a rest. "You have to do what you think is best. If I went, I'd be having only one week off before the match. There's no point me getting to the Ryder Cup like that. If I don't keep my place on the team, it will hurt a lot. If I don't get a wild card it will hurt even more."
Olazabal will be guaranteed a place on the team if Colin Montgomerie does not finish in the top 49 in Munich and Paul Casey is not first or second.
If Montgomerie or Casey finish high on the leaderboard, Olazabal could lose his place to Paul Broadhurst, Johan Edfors or John Bickerton. |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 11 September 2006 )
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