FINAL SHOT
José María Olazábal The two-time major champion, a former Hong Kong Open winner and Ryder Cup captain, talks about his love of Augusta National, Rioja and hunting. What is your all-time favourite Ryder Cup memory? There are many more than one but I’d say two in particular. First would be Muirfield Village in 1987, when I played with Seve. The whole experience of that first Ryder Cup, not knowing what it was all about, playing with Seve, the crowds, the noise – that was very special, and we won then for the first time in America. The second would be the hug that Darren [Clarke] and I had on the 17th green at the K Club in 2006. That was after I had won my singles and of course he had been through so much that week [following the recent death of his wife]. Your worst Ryder Cup memory? The saddest may be Brookline in 1999. We had a good advantage going into the singles but they managed to beat us. We didn’t play good enough on the last day. I’m saying this about the whole thing, not to do with what happened with me when Justin Leonard holed that long putt on the 17th green. It was very disappointing to lose.
Miller Brown (Augusta National); AFP (Olazabal)
What is the best shot you’ve ever hit? Well, over 25 years I hope I have hit a few good ones, but obviously it is the context that matters. If I had to pick just one, I’d say it was the 6-iron I hit to three feet on the 16th hole on the last day of the Masters in 1999. Greg [Norman] and Davis Love were very close to me but that birdie gave me a crucial cushion to go on and win. What’s your favourite golf course? Well, Augusta (pictured) is one of them. I like Castle Pines, where we used to play The International and I love Loch Lomond. Those three are perhaps my favourites. What about the Hong Kong Golf Club, where you won in 2001? It is a great course and plays difficult because of the wind, which swirls around. I have great memories of winning there and I have always enjoyed going back. Hong Kong is a great city. 86
HK GOLFER・OCT 2014
Which golfer do you admire the most? I would say, again obviously, Seve, because of the way he played the game and his fighting spirit. And I’d have to say Tiger as well. I admire his work ethic, how well prepared he is mentally, and to win majors is very difficult and not only has he won so many, some of them have been by huge margins. So often he has hit the perfect shot or made the perfect putt at a crucial time. So that says a lot about him. Favourite drink? I like red wine, especially I would say Rioja. And your favourite meal? That is diff icult to say. It ’s pretty much everything. I think where I live, around San Sebastian, we are very spoiled. Everything is so good – the meat, the fish, everything – and I like it all, so I could not say one thing is my favourite over another. What’s your favourite way to relax? Mostly, I would say hunting. I go with my dad and a couple of friends. We walk up in the hills and it is totally peaceful and the views are fantastic. You smell the plants and enjoy the quiet. We stay in a small house that we rent as a base, get up early in the morning and go.
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