José María Olazábal
Name:
José María OlazábalAlso known as:
OllieCountry:
SpainBorn:
Feb 5, 1966 in Hondarribia (Fuenterrabía in Spanish), Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain.Original/Home Club:
Real (Royal) GC de San Sebastian, Fuenterrabía.Occupation:
Professional golfer; golf course designerTurned Pro:
1985Europe
x
Played as the Mallorca Classic (Oct 20-23). Second-placed Sergio García (Esp), José Manuel Lara (Esp) and Paul Broadhurst (Eng) finished 5 shots behind Olazábal (Esp), who recorded his first European Tour win for 4 years. [Pula GC, Son Servera, Mallorca, Spain].
America
Buick
Played as the Buick Invitational (Feb 7-10). Second-placed J.L. Lewis (USA) and Mark O'Meara (USA) finished 1 shot behind Olazábal (Esp), who recorded the last of his six PGA Tour wins. [South course, Torrey Pines, La Jolla, CA; earlier rounds on North & South courses].
Asia
Omega
Played as the Omega Hong Kong Open (Nov 29-Dec 2; Asian/Eurpn Trs event; Eurpn Tr 2002 season). Second-placed Henrik Bjørnstad (Nor) finished 1 shot behind Olazábal (Esp). [Hong Kong GC, Fanling; composite of 10 holes from Eden course, 8 from the New].
Europe
Novotel Perrier
Played as the Novotel Perrier Open de France (May 3-6). Second-placed Paul Eales (Eng), Constantino Rocca (Italy) and Greg Turner (NZ) finished 2 shots behind Olazábal (Esp). [Sangliers course, Lyon GC, Villette d'Anthon, nr Lyon].
Europe
Benson & Hedges
Played as the Benson & Hedges International Open (May 11-14). Second-placed Phillip Price (Wales) finished 3 shots behind Olazábal (Esp). [Brabazon course, The Belfry, Wishaw, nr Birmingham].
Majors
x
The Masters Tournament (63rd) (April 8-11). Second-placed Davis Love III (USA) finished 2 shots behind Olazabal (Esp), who recorded the second of his two wins in The Masters. [Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA].
Europe
x
Played as the Dubai Desert Classic (Feb 26-Mar 1; European Tour event). Second-placed Steve Allan (Aus) finished 3 shots behind José María Olazábal (Esp). [Majlis course, Emirates GC, Dubai, UAE].
Europe
Turespana
Played as the Turespana Masters - Open de Canarias (March 20-23). Second-placed Lee Westwood (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Olazábal (Esp). [Maspalomas Golf, Gran Canaria, Spain].
Europe
Perrier
Played as the Tournoi Perrier de Paris (April 27-30; Eurpn Tr unofficial money event; two-man teams playing fourball, foursome and greensome formats). Second-placed team of Australia (Mike Clayton & Peter O'Malley) finished 3 shots behind Spain (Seve Ballesteros & José María Olazábal). [Vert course, Saint Cloud GC, Garches, nr Paris].
Majors
x
The Masters Tournament (58th) (April 7-10). Second-placed Tom Lehman (USA) finished 2 shots behind Olazábal (Esp), who became the second Spaniard (after Seve Ballesteros) to wear the green jacket. This was the first of Olazábal's two Masters wins. [Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA].
Europe
Volvo
Played as the Volvo PGA Championship (May 27-30). Second-placed Ernie Els (RSA) finished 1 shot behind Olazábal (Esp), whose final round 65 secured his only win in the PGA Championship. [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].
Europe
Turespana
Played as the Turespana Open Mediterrania (March 3-6). Olazábal (Esp) beat Paul McGinley (Ire) with a 25-foot birdie putt at the second playoff hole, to win this event for the second time in three years. [GC Villamartin, Orihuela Costa, Alicante, Spain].
America
NEC
Played as the NEC World Series of Golf (Aug 25-28). Second-placed Scott Hoch (USA) finished 1 shot behind José María Olazábal (Esp). [South course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].
Europe
x
Played as the Open Mediterrania (Feb 27-Mar 1). Second-placed José Rivero (Esp) finished 2 shots behind Olazábal (Esp). [El Bosque GC, Chiva, nr Valencia, Spain].
Europe
Turespana
Played as the Turespana Open de Tenerife (Feb 20-23). Second-placed Miguel Ángel Martín finished 5 shots behind José Maria Olazábal (Esp). [Golf del Sur, nr Los Abrigos, Tenerife].
America
x
Played as The International (Aug 15-18; modified stableford format). Second-placed Bob Lohr (USA), Ian Baker-Finch (Aus) and Scott Gump (USA) finished 3 points behind Olazábal (Esp). [Castle Pines GC, Castle Rock, nr Denver, Colorado].
Europe
x
Played as the Open de Catalonia (March 14-17). Second-placed David Feherty (N.Ire) finished 6 shots behind Olazábal (Esp), who recorded his tenth European Tour win. [GC Bonmont, nr Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain].
Europe
Epson
Played as the Epson Grand Prix of Europe (Sept 19-22). Second-placed Mark James (Eng) finished 9 shots behind Olazábal (Esp). [Old course, St Pierre Hotel & CC, Chepstow, S Wales].
Europe
Benson & Hedges
Played as the Benson & Hedges International Open (May 4-7). Second-placed Ian Woosnam (Wales) finished 1 shot behind Olazábal (Esp). [Nicklaus course, St Mellion Intl Resort, St Mellion, Cornwall].
Japan
Visa
Played as the VISA Taiheiyo Masters (Nov 8-11; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Bernhard Langer (Ger) and Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) finished 5 shots behind defending champion Olazabal (Esp). [Gotemba course, Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba, Shizuoka, Jpn].
Europe
Lancome
Played as the Trophee Lancome. Won by Jose Maria Olazabal (Esp). [Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche, nr Paris, France].
Europe
Carroll & Co.
Played as Carroll's Irish Open. Second-placed Frank Nobilo (NZ) and Mark Calcavecchia (USA) finished 3 shots behind Olazábal (Esp). [Portmarnock GC, nr Dublin, Ireland].
America
NEC
Played as the NEC World Series of Golf (Aug 23-26). Second-placed Lanny Wadkins (USA) finished 12 shots behind first-time PGA Tour winner José María Olazábal (Esp). [South course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].
Japan
Visa
Played as the VISA Taiheiyo Masters (Nov 9-12; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) and Isao Aoki (Jpn) finished 3 shots behind first-time Japan Tour winner Olazabal (Esp). Reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather. [Gotemba course, Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba, Shizuoka, Jpn].
Europe
x
Played as the inaugural Tenerife Open (Feb 23-26; Eurpn Tr season opener). Second-placed José Maria Cañizares (Esp) and David Gilford (Eng) finished 3 shots behind José Maria Olazábal (Esp), who recorded his fifth European Tour win. [Golf del Sur, nr Los Abrigos, Tenerife].
Europe
KLM
Played as the KLM Dutch Open (July 27-30). Olazábal (Esp) beat Ronan Rafferty (N.Ire) with a double-bogey 6 at the ninth playoff hole, versus Rafferty's triple-bogey 7. Roger Chapman (Eng) was eliminated at the first playoff hole. This was the longest "sudden-death" playoff in European Tour history at the time. [Kennemer G&CC, Zandvoort, Netherlands].
Europe
Volvo
Played as the Volvo Belgian Open (June 16-19). Second-placed Mike Smith (USA) finished 4 shots behind Olazábal (Esp), who recorded his third European Tour win. [Royal Bercuit GC, Grez-Doiceau, Walloon Brabant; at the time known as Bercuit GC].
Europe
x
Played as the German Masters (Sept 22-25). Second-placed Des Smyth (Ire) and Anders Forsbrand (Swe) finished 2 shots behind Olazábal (Esp). [Stuttgarter GC Solitude, Mönsheim, nr Stuttgart].
Europe
Ebel
Played as the Ebel European Masters Swiss Open. Second-placed Anders Forsbrand (Swe) finished 3 shots behind Olazabal (Esp). [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].
Awards
Eurpn Tr
Olazabal (Esp) won the European Tour 1986 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award as the leading first-season player. Olazabal finished second on the Tour's Order of Merit, with earnings of £136,775.
Europe
Sanyo
Played as the Sanyo Open (Oct 9-12). Second-placed Howard Clark (Eng) finished 3 shots behind José María Olazábal (Esp), who recorded his second European Tour win. [Real (Royal) GC El Prat, Terrassa, Barcelona]. This event was replaced on the 1987 European Tour schedule by the Barcelona Open, also at El Prat GC; however the 1987 event was cancelled due to a waterlogged course.
Amateur
R&A
The Amateur Championship (89th). Olazabal (Esp) beat Colin Montgomerie (Scot) 5 and 4 in the final. [Formby GC, Formby, Merseyside].
Amateur
R&A
Played as the Boys Amateur Championship. Olazabal (Esp) beat Marc Pendaries (Fra) 6 and 5 in the 36-hole final match. [Glenbervie GC, nr Falkirk, Scotland].
124th US Open: the No.2 Course at Pinehurst once again plays host to this most illustrious championship (June 13-16). Wyndham Clark defends his title, having won at Los Angeles CC in 2023.
79th Women’s US Open: the second women’s major championship of the season gets underway at Lancaster CC in Pennsylvania. It’s the second time the championship has been held here.
(May 30-June 2).
Nelly Korda: won the Mizuho Americas Open (May 16-19) at Liberty National GC, continuing her extraordinary form in LPGA events. This was her sixth win in seven starts in 2024.
Xander Schauffele: recorded his first major championship win, and second record-equalling low score of 62 in a major. Only he, Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler and Shane Lowry have achieved this feat in a men’s major championship.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.