| Born: February 1966, Fuenterrabia, Spain |
| European Tour wins: 15 |
| Ryder Cup appearances: 4 (1987, 1989, 1991, 1993) |
| Olazabal
had the most remarkable rookie year in 1986,
winning two tournaments (European Masters and
Sanyo Open) and finishing second in the European
Order of Merit - the highest ever finish by a
rookie. As an 18-year-old he beat Colin
Montgomerie 5&4 in the final of the 1984
British Amateur Championship at Formby. He
produced one of the great performances of all
time to win the 1990 World Series in Akron, Ohio,
by 12 shots, the widest winning margin on the US
Tour since 1975. He opened with a 61, to lead by
four, before adding three successive 67s for a
72-hole total of 262. Olazabal finally rid himself of that unwanted tag 'best player never to win a major', with victory at Augusta in 1994. The key moment in his two- stroke victory came at the par-5 15th where he holed a 30-foot eagle putt from the front of the green. Moments later playing partner and main challenger Tom Lehman missed his eagle attempt from 15 feet giving Ollie a two-stroke cushion. In his Ryder Cup debut at Muirfield Village, Ohio, in 1987, Olazabal won his first three matches when he was paired with close-friend and fellow-countryman Seve Ballesteros in two foursomes and one four-ball. |
 Olazabal takes a break during his Ryder Cup debut in 1987 at Muirfield Village. |