Olazabal Has Two Week Ultimatum

by Ryan Ballengee on Jan 14, 2009 10:00 AM EST Comment 17 comments

James Corrigan reports in the Independent that the 15 man committee which will decide the next European Ryder Cup captain has made their selection - Jose Maria Olazabal. Now, it is up to Olazabal if he wants to continue trying to make the team as a player, or abandon that quest and take the captaincy. He has two weeks to decide.

It was revealed here last night that Nick Faldo's successor will be announced at the Dubai Desert Classic, which takes place in the adjoining United Arab Emirates state at the end of the month.

This is a change from what we had been hearing, that the committee would be willing to stall their decision until May to allow Olazabal ample time to come to terms with accepting the job.

But after a lively meeting, which lasted well over three hours, Thomas Bjorn, the committee chairman, said that the panel had agreed on the necessity for a quick resolution to the debate buzzing around the range at the Abu Dhabi Championships, the year-opener which begins here tomorrow.

"We felt it was important that the decision was made sooner rather than later," said the Dane, who once again ruled himself out . "To hang on for another three months was a little too long and would just add to the speculation. Also, the captain needs to start preparing."

That doesn't necessarily give the captaincy to Sandy Lyle. It could still go to Ian Woosnam (2006 winning captain), Paul McGinley, and now even Darren Clarke is rumored for the job.

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is the Ryder Cup getting silly ?

Come on – almost 2 years before the next Cup – the course is set up – the points accrue by themselves and captain’s picks aren’t important until a couple of months before they play. The captain has nothing to do other than pick ugly shirts, pick a bag. Other people take care of transportation, loging, and transportation – but that doesn’t have to be done for another year.

WHY is it so important to give Oli an ultimatum like this ? Lucky they weren’t asking me – I’d tell them where they could put the job. Life’s too short for aggrevation like that.

And what genius decided that Clarke would be a candidate ? Didn’t they notice that he is still in his 30’s and has a win in the last 6 months ? He’ll be playing in Wales.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Jan 14, 2009 10:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree, but

It does seem silly, however, Azinger claims he used the two years to build personality profiles and establish the pairings. Hard to argue it didn’t work. Still, I don’t like anyone giving Olazabal an ultimatum. Now on the issue of Ryder Cup costumes and bags—someone should have started working on that months ago.

by realwomengolf.com on Jan 15, 2009 8:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I love it...

…lol – the female perspective on things – start with the shoes and the rest will take care of itself. :-)

I know he SAYS he took 2 years to put together player profiles – but come on – MOST of that team was made up of guys he had known for a lot of years. If it takes 2 years to figure them out – was he really that good of a captain ? And his on-course “whooping” wouldn’t fly in Wales. The first time he takes a cart out to rev up the crowd, he’d getting a pint in the face…ok…not a pint…they have too much respect for the beer there. :-D

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Jan 15, 2009 9:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You don't know

What Zinger actually did with his two years. It probably took him several months to line up who he thought would eventually round out the team. He had to plot how he would do this pod thing he came up with and who could fit into each. Then he lined up assistants to help oversee those pods. That stuff takes time.

by Ryan Ballengee on Jan 15, 2009 9:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

true...

…but TWO YEARS ? Especially when he had no possible clue who would be ranked 9 and below ?

I think he had the job on his mind for 2 years, but the idea that he obsessed over battle plans for 2 years is ridiculous. The plans for Normandy didn’t take more than a few months. I liked hearing the stories of the things he learned from the books he read and the great people he spent time with to learn what it takes to be a good captain, but he had to wait until the last 6 months before he could start putting names into slots – and then he picked some pretty off the wall names of guys who weren’t playing particularly well.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Jan 15, 2009 9:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe that time

was spent thinking of those off the wall guys :)

by Ryan Ballengee on Jan 15, 2009 11:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think this is kind of silly

But I think they just want to keep up with the PGA of America that seemingly could not get rid of Captain America any faster than they did.

by Ryan Ballengee on Jan 14, 2009 10:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

it's been that way...

…the last 3 or 4 Cups have been that way – GOTTA HAVE THE NEXT CAPTAIN NOW !!! – and it just doesn’t make sense.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Jan 14, 2009 2:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

There is so much time

from the selection to the matches, as you said. I understood with Azinger because he also changed the entire selection process. Pavin is keeping it, though.

by Ryan Ballengee on Jan 14, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ultimatum or job offer...

I don’t know…it seems to me that if I were a group that was in charge of something like this, I would want to get my key people in place as soon as possible. I agree that it probably doesn’t take 2 years to do everything, but the longer the time line the more chance you have to decide on how you want to proceed. I don’t know what all goes into being a captain, but I’m pretty sure they could find things to keep them busy or the next year and half or so…

Ultimatum is such a dramatic word – and it’s not like this was just sprung on Olazabal as a big surprise – he’s had time to ponder and he can make his choice – and if he wants to be a playing captain, he can – he’ll just have to get some really good assistants. But if he’s not interested then let the committee start looking at other options…someone else might want all the time they can get.

by red tees on Jan 15, 2009 9:58 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ultimatum

for me, implies that you must make a decision one way or the other. Ollie’s is to take the captain’s job or try (and probably fail) to make the team as a player.

by Ryan Ballengee on Jan 15, 2009 11:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

For some reason...

this just strikes me funny…my alarm gave me an ultimatum this morning – either get up and shut it off or keep listening to that annoying beeping. To me, it’s a choice…and after you described his options, almost a no brainer if Olazabal wants to be a part of the Ryder Cup.

by red tees on Jan 15, 2009 12:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough

I can go with that :)

by Ryan Ballengee on Jan 15, 2009 1:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

There is an element of minor sensationalism

In getting people to read these things :)

by Ryan Ballengee on Jan 15, 2009 1:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

a little more...

…it’s a LAST CHANCE choice. An ultimatum carries finality with it.

The alarm clock is pretty good – but you left that Snooze button out of the equation. All you have to do is hit that and you get more time. If your alarm clock gave you three free Snooze clicks – but he fourth time you hit it, your bed would flip over to get you out of bed – that would be an ultimatum. :-)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Jan 15, 2009 3:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

funny...

I need the bed flip over incentive!
I think Ryan was right…ultimatum was a little “sensationalist” – and I get that. Now with the captain ideas changing..adding Monty to the mix…maybe we’ll see a whole different outcome.

by red tees on Jan 16, 2009 3:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs