Olly's Chinese Adventure

Spaniard José Maria Olazábal has enjoyed the exquisite thrill of representing his country and continent in team competitions, but the 41 year old from Fuenterrabia expects to puff out his chest with pride at Mission Hills Golf Club in November. The course for the 2007 Omega Mission Hills World Cup carries the famous Olazábal signature and the man who helped sculpt the 7,400 yard masterpiece in China, is excited at the prospect of 28 nations assembling from across the globe from November 22-25 to sample his creation. As well as winning two Masters titles, Olazábal has been on three victorious European Ryder Cup Teams (1987, 1997, 2006), two Alfred Dunhill Cup sides (1999, 2000) under the red and yellow flag of Spain and helped his great friend, Seve Ballesteros, to success in the inaugural Seve Trophy in 2000. He also partnered José Maria Cañizares to finish runners-up behind Australia at Las Brisas, Marbella, in his native Spain in the 1989 World Cup of Golf, while teaming up with Miguel Angel Jiménez to share seventh place behind the United States in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2000. Now, as the driving force behind the Olazábal Course at Mission Hills, the man popularly known the world over as ‘Olly’ believes that the 2007 Omega Mission Hills World Cup will rubber stamp China’s Olympic credentials. He said: “I remember going to Mission Hills in 2002 to check out the course routing and being told that my course and four others had to be finished within one year. I thought: ‘Five courses in a year? No way!’ But it happened, which made me realise why China could handle the task of staging the Olympic Games. “They brought in about 3000 workers and 600 machines to move the earth and, sure enough, the courses were completed on time. I have to say I was impressed!” Olazábal believes that his course will deliver a fair but stern challenge to the nations seeking to win the 2007 Omega Mission Hills World Cup. He added: “I hope the players enjoy the course and the challenges facing them. For example, the change in elevation is one of the key factors. “There are many shots where you find yourself driving off elevated tees or playing approaches to elevated greens. The bunkering is another feature of the course and there is a little bit of water, especially to the left of the 18th which is a little left to right dog-leg with a bale out collection area to the right of the green.“The fairways are generous and the par threes are all strong holes – not too long but challenging. Look at the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon – par threes don’t need to be over 200 yards to test your skills. A smallish green, a little elevation and some bunkering can make you think!” Olazábal continued: “I think you are going to see a bunch of birdies. The par threes, as I say, are not too long and the par fives are reachable in two. You can attack the pins and there should be loads of birdie opportunities.”
Spain came agonisingly close to winning the World Cup in 2004, when Sergio Garcia and Jiménez finished one shot behind England’s Paul Casey and Luke Donald in Seville – coincidentally at the Olazábal-designed Real Club de Golf de Sevilla. However the country has an outstanding record in the World Cup, having won four times between 1976 and 1984. It was Olazábal’s old mentor and friend, Seve Ballesteros, who set the ball rolling in 1976 when he and Antonio Garrido secured Spain’s first title in the Philippines while Manuel Piñero partnered Ballesteros to a repeat performance in California the following year. Olazábal revealed: “I was only ten years old at the time and knew Seve and Manuel slightly, but to be honest I didn’t have a clue that Spain had won! I was more interested in learning to play the game and didn’t pay much attention to the news.” Piñero and José Maria Cañizares triumphed in Mexico in 1982 and the latter teamed up with José Rivero to win in Italy two years later. Olazábal added: “It’s a great event, fantastic crowds and a lot of fun. You are there to win for your partner and your country. “I love representing my country. I’ve had some wonderful experiences in The Ryder Cup and playing for Spain. In 1989, I played with Cañizares and the event was cut to 36 holes due to the torrential rain, but that didn’t diminish the element of fun. You can chat away to your partner and enjoy the experience.” The Spaniard enjoys his visits to China and added: “More and more courses are being built and more people are playing the game. With a population of 1.3 billion, the game is taking off in a big way. It will take time, but I believe that some day a real champion will emerge from China, capable of winning a Major Championship.”