José Maria Olazábal will attempt to create a piece of European Tour history at The De Vere Belfry this week when he endeavours to become the first golfer to win the Benson and Hedges International Open in two successive years.
The 35 year old Spaniard, who won his first European Tour title of the year last week in the Novotel Perrier Open de France, produced a sensational weekend’s golf twelve months ago, in the tournament’s first year on the Brabazon Course, posting consecutive rounds of 66 to overtake long time leader Phillip Price and win with a 13 under par total of 275.
As well as attempting back-to-back titles successes, Olazábal is also seeking to become the first player to win the Benson and Hedges International Open three times, his first success in the tournament having come at St Mellion in 1990 when he won by a shot from Ian Woosnam.
"When you are the defending champion you are always looking forward to the week because you have very good memories from the last time you played that course," said Olazábal.
"I also like this course, especially as it is in very good shape. The information we got last week suggested this might not be the case but it is playing well considering the weather you have had over here.
"Parts of my game were very solid last week - the driving was not great but I managed to keep the ball in play and from then on it was okay.
"But you have to take that on into the next week which is this one. I have to improve my driving because the fairways here are narrower than they were in Lyon.
"But I like this course and the tournament and if I play well I should be up there. I have never won twice in a row before and what I want is to strike the ball like I want to - if I do that I will be very pleased whatever the outcome."
The only other player in the field who can also take the Benson and Hedges title for the third time is Bernhard Langer, the 43 year old German having claimed victory in the event at St Mellion in 1991 and again at The Oxfordshire in 1997.
Langer’s appearances on the 2001 European Tour International Schedule have thus far been brief, having played in the WGC – Accenture Match Play in Victoria and in the Masters at Augusta, so the appearance of the recent inductee to the World Golf Hall of Fame gives added weight to an already impressive line-up.
"I've been playing very solidly, especially in the last three tournaments I've played in the States - I've finished third, sixth and third and I've been very happy with my game," said Langer.
"There are a few reasons. I've made slight changes to my address position with my coach Willy Hoffman and that has improved my ball striking.
"I've got new equipment, new irons and a different ball and I haven't been doing a lot of travelling and all of that together has helped me to improve my performance."
With the Brabazon Course playing host to The Ryder Cup Matches in September, focus will also be on players who might make a return then in European colours and captain Sam Torrance, along with his American counterpart Curtis Strange, will be present to keep an eye on his charges.
Indeed ten of the side who played under Mark James at Brookline in 1999 will tee up, Olazábal, Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Darren Clarke, Jarmo Sandelin, Andrew Coltart, Jean Van de Velde and Padraig Harrington.
For Harrington, the return will be timely, for it will give him a chance to finally lay to rest the ghost of last year when he was poised to take a five shot lead into the final round before being disqualified when it was discovered he had incorrectly signed his first round scorecard.
The timing was cruel because it took the focus away from Harrington’s golf which had been superb, the highlight being a third round 64 where his unerring accuracy from the tee helped pave the way for eight birdies.
“It is definitely a real driving golf course and a lot more testing off the tee than many we play on,” he said. “To sum it up, I’d say that on most of the holes you can play safe off the tee, you can be a little bit aggressive, or you can be very aggressive.
“If you are very aggressive and get a good drive away, you are left with a good opportunity to birdie although you can be heavily punished if it goes wrong. Whereas if you opt to play safe from the tee you are invariably left with a tough par to make.”
Another Irishman looking to well is Ulsterman Darren Clarke who comes into the week bouyed with victory in the Chunichi Crowns tournament in Japan ten days ago.
"My game is good, I feel comfortable with what I'm trying to do and that's why I am now down to play the next six tournaments in a row," said Clarke.
"My goal now is to win tournaments and it doesn't matter where in the world I am playing as I try to achieve that."
