José María Olazábal fears illness may dash hopes of Ryder captaincy
José María Olazábal has admitted that poor health could prevent him from leading Europe in the Ryder Cup in 2012.
The Spaniard has been touted as the obvious successor to this year's winning captain Colin Montgomerie, but he has barely played in recent months because of rheumatoid arthritis.
And the seven-time competitor at the biennial clash between the US and Europe, also a late addition to the ranks of vice-captains at this year's event at Celtic Manor, believes his health problems could prevent him taking up the mantle from Monty.
Speaking on the eve of today's Castelló Masters in Valencia, the 44-year-old revealed that while it would distress him to do so, he would refuse the captaincy if he felt it were the best decision.
Olazábal's greatest fear is that his illness could hamper his attempts to form close bonds with his prospective team members, forcing him to stay on the sidelines when he would like to play alongside them in the run-up to the Ryder Cup.
But despite his concerns for the future, the two-time Masters winner will make his second appearance of the year at the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo course today, after an abortive comeback attempt at the French Open in July where he missed the cut.
Olazábal says he is making progress, and feels he is in better shape now than when he tried to return to competitive play in the summer.
And while fellow countryman Sergio Garcia also makes his comeback at this tournament, hoping this return will be the first step in a bid to climb to the world No. 1 spot, Olazábal has rather humbler hopes for this week's action, saying he is aiming only to make the cut.
Meanwhile, this year's European captain, the aforementioned Colin Montgomerie, has been involved in a car accident in his native Glasgow.
Montgomerie's car was apparently involved in a collision with a van, leaving the 47-year-old shaken but with only "minor, superficial" injuries. The Scot does not require hospital treatment.
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