Olazabal & Love to Be Named Ryder Cup Captains This Week


According to reports it's only a formality that Jose Maria Olazabal and Davis Love III will be named captains of the 2012 European and American Ryder Cup teams, respectively.

Olazabal's appointment is set to be announced tomorrow at the site of this week's European Tour event, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, which will boast the year's strongest field to date in professional golf.

Although Davis Love was linked late last year as the American captain, there has been no official confirmation. According to The Associated Press, however, two officials involved with the selection process confirmed Love will be the next U.S. captain. Love was one of Corey Pavin's assistants in Wales.

The insiders spoke on condition of anonymity because the official announcement will not be made until Thursday at Medinah, where the 2012 matches will be played.

The No. 1-ranked player in the world, Lee Westwood, is pleased that the Spaniard will lead the defending Ryder Cup champions. "Jose Maria has been a great Ryder Cup player and when he was involved with the vice-captaincy at Valhalla (in 2008) and at Celtic Manor (in 2010) he's been superb," Westwood said Monday.

"When Jose Maria conducts a team talk or motivational talk everyone listens. He will bring leadership, experience and passion and is going to be fantastic when he leads the team at Medinah."