Spanish double-act could be re-united
Seve Ballesteros has named his old Ryder Cup partner Jose Maria Olazabal as his wild card pick for the Seve Trophy match between Continental Europe and Colin Montgomerie’s Britain and Ireland side at El Saler near Valencia on November 6-9.
“I chose him because he is a great champion and has experience of match play from all his past Ryder Cups and two Seve Trophy matches,” commented Continental captain Ballesteros.
“There is a possibility I may play with him in one match.”
The most successful partnership in Ryder Cup history was back together for what many thought could be the last time in the last Seve Trophy clash at Druids Glen in Ireland two years ago – and produced a memorable win over Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley.
The two captains meet in the Sunday singles and Ballesteros, 279th on this season’s Order of Merit, will be looking for his third straight win over Montgomerie.
“I may ask him if I can be two-up on the first tee – that will be a fair match,” said Ballesteros, who has made only two halfway cuts all year and now has had arthritis in his back diagnosed.
The Madrid Open was the last qualifying event. Miguel Angel Jimenez bumped out Mathias Gronberg, but there were no changes in the Britain and Ireland qualifiers.
Montgomerie has still to select his wild card and he also does not know whether Darren Clarke will play. He is waiting to see if he qualifies for the Tour Championship in the USA.
Continental Europe: Seve Ballesteros (captain), Thomas Bjorn, Fredrik Jacobson, Sergio Garcia, Alex Cejka, Ignacio Garrido, Raphael Jacquelin, Niclas Fasth, Miguel Angel Jimenez. Wild card: Jose Maria Olazabal
Britain and Ireland: Colin Montgomerie (captain), Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, Justin Rose, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Phillip Price, Brian Davis. Wild card: to be named.
