IT'S BEEN a truly remarkable journey. Four months after a dramatic comeback in the exotic setting of Dubai, Jose-Maria Olazabal was at Druids Glen yesterday as a leading challenger for the Pounds 750,000 Murphy's Irish Open, which starts on Thursday.
As it happens, it is difficult to write anything about the 31-year-old Spaniard these days without reference to a comeback. He is, in fact, making a return to the Irish Open for the first time since 1994. And it is two years since he withdrew from this event because of the onset of serious foot problems.
Now he is set to play three weeks in a row. Would it be a gamble? "I know I am doing it for the first time this year, but I'm pretty confident," he replied. "The big test for me was playing the Kemper Open and the US Open at Congressional and I came through it okay."
Olazabal went on: "I found Augusta National very demanding physically. But to play those two courses together earlier this month was more difficult. Afterwards, I took a complete break at home for three or four days, but I have been working on my game since then."
Admirably consistent rounds of 71, 71, 72, 71 for an aggregate of 285 gave him a share of 16th place in the US Open, his best performance in it since being tied eighth behind Payne Stewart in 1991. And by his own estimation, it was also one of his best ball-striking tournaments this year.
Meanwhile, his strong links with the Irish Open go back to 1985 when, as the best amateur in Europe, he was given a sponsor's invitation to the championship at Royal Dublin. "That meant a lot to me," he said. "To get a sponsor's invitation as an amateur from the Continent was very special - something I will always remember.
"But the Irish Open is also special because of the courses and the people. You play at Portmarnock and then at Mount Juliet, which is out in the country and the crowds are always amazing. That sort of atmosphere is important to a professional sportsman. The Irish people are very enthusiastic about their golf and they make me enthusiastic about being here."
It's an emotional bond that has been very much a two-way affair. While the crowds warmed to this gifted Spaniard, he responded by capturing the title at Portmarnock in 1990, with a six-under-par aggregate of 282. Then there was the heartbreak of a play-off defeat by Nick Faldo at Mount Juliet three years later.
"That was a great match with Nick," he said, recalling a wonderful battle which extended to a play-off down the treacherous 18th, where the Englishman eventually bank a 12-foot putt for a third successive title. Knowing that Faldo is also in this week's field, Olazabal added with a smile: "I'll be trying to change that result."
Interestingly, he wasn't aware that Ireland had also smiled on his country at national level, insofar as the Spanish men's team captured the European Amateur Championship at Portmarnock last Sunday. "That's great news," said the player who had been the key member of a Spanish side beaten by Ireland in the final of the same event 14 years ago.
And what does he think of the latest Spanish prodigy, 17-year-old Sergio Garcia? "I played a practice round with him before the Lancome tournament in 1995," he replied guardedly. "He's young and it's difficult to say how good he can be. But he has the character to do good things. I'm sure he's looking forward to the day he will turn professional."
It is fascinating to note that in a total of what could be termed 11 comeback tournaments this year - four in the US and seven in Europe - Olazabal has made every cut, comfortably. He has had one victory (Canaries Open), one second-place finish (Italian Open), was tied fourth in the Portuguese Open and tied seventh in the Freeport-McDermott Classic in the US.
In fact his worst finish was tied 26th in the Kemper Open and his worst rounds were 745. on the third day of the Masters. in Dubai Portugal and in the Spanish Open. On the other hand, he had 65s in Dubai and Portugal and has carded 67 on a remarkable seven occasions in those 44 rounds.
A great career had a classic beginning when, as a six-year-old, his mother would take him out onto the deserted course at Real Golf de San Sebastian late in the afternoon. Both his parents worked at the club, where his father was greenkeeper, and poverty proved to be only a minor obstacle in his bid for golfing greatness.
Illness, however, presented a much more formidable hurdle. Originally diagnosed in September 1995 as rheumatoid arthritis, Olazabal's condition has since been interpreted by a German specialist as being biomechanical, arising from a hernia of the lower spine.
Doctors have differed but the patient has prospered, to the extent that he now looks to his golfing future with considerable optimism. "My German doctor is not certain that I will make a full recovery from my foot problems, but he is hopeful and that is good enough for me," he said. Then he added with a wry smile: "Especially when I thought my golf career was over."
He concluded: "It will take a little while before it can be 100 per cent, but the important thing is that everything is improving. Slowly. I'm definitely getting better."
The last comment was almost superfluous, given his general demeanour. Rarely has Olazabal appeared so relaxed and at peace with the world as he did yesterday in the almost deserted media centre at Druids Glen, his faithful manager, Sergio Gomez by his side. Clearly, for the 1994 US Masters champion, there has been gain through pain.
Padraig Harrington is among 10 players nominated for the Canon Shoot- Out, scheduled for 3.0 this afternoon on the first five holes and the eighth and ninth at Druids Glen. A foursomes event, the pairings will be chosen by Seve Ballesteros from: Colin Montgomerie, Harrington, Robert Allenby, Costantino Rocca, Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Lee Westwood, Miguel-Angel Martin, Sam Torrance.
