The Golf Watch

Source: Olazabal the "preferred choice"

Alistair Tait files an interesting column about Jose Maria Olazabal being the preferred choice as captain of the 2010 European Ryder Cup team. 

Olazabal offered to be captain of '10 Ryder Cup team

Derek Lawrenson of the Daily Mail confirms that two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal has been offered the position of captain for the European Ryder Cup team in 2010.  According to Lawrenson, Olazabal was recently approached by tournament players committee chairman Thomas Bjorn, and the Spaniard promised an answer by July.  Lawrenson suggests that Sandy Lyle, who was on the top page of the leaderboard earlier today at The Masters, will be disappointed over the selection...

The news will come as a severe blow to supporters of Sandy Lyle, who had been hoping that he would get the nod, with Ian Woosnam as vice-captain.

Far more probable is an all-Spanish ticket for the first-ever Ryder Cup in Wales, with Miguel Angel Jimenez as Ollie's No 2.

Langer, Ames, Olazabal withdraw from Barclays

Bernhard Langer (59), Stephen Ames (64), and Jose Maria Olazabal (96) have withdrawn from The Barclays this week.  Langer is still recovering from kidney surgery, while Rich Lerner said on Golf Central last night that Ames "simply chose not to play."  Olazabal has been battling knee problems all year and his last top-25 finish was at The Players Championship in May (T-3). 

Olazabal withdraws from British Open

According to the BBC, Jose Maria Olazabal has withdrawn from this week's British Open at Carnoustie due to a knee injury that sidelined him from playing in the French Open and last week's Scottish Open.  Second alternate Tom Pernice Jr. will replace Olazabal.