SURREY, England – The World Golf Hall of Fame announced at the BMW PGA Championship that two-time Masters Champion Jose Maria Olazabal will be part of the 2009 Class of Inductees.
Elected on the International Ballot, Olazabal will enter the Hall of Fame along with previously announced inductees Lanny Wadkins and Christy O’Connor at the annual Induction Ceremony on Monday, November 2 in St. Augustine, Florida.
“I am delighted with this news," said Olazabal. "Only a small group of people are privileged to be in the World Golf Hall of Fame and I have a huge respect for all the players already there.
“They are all great players who have achieved so much, and to have a little square plaque there with my name on it makes me feel very special," he continued. I am particularly happy to follow Seve’s footsteps into the Hall of Fame. He opened so many doors for us and we owe him a huge debt.
“There are huge, huge players in the Hall of Fame, legends such as Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and many, many other greats. I am just thrilled that I am going to be just a little part of this.”
Olazabal will become the second Spaniard in the Hall of Fame, joining his friend Seve Ballesteros, who was inducted in 1999. Ninety-one percent of the International Ballots mailed out were returned and Olazábal was chosen on 56 percent of the returned ballots. A complete list of percentages for the 2009 International Ballot Candidates is below.
“Two words spring immediately to mind when reflecting on the wonderful career of José Maria Olazabal, courage and determination," said Chief Executive of The European Tour, George O'Grady.
“On the world’s fairways, José Maria has exhibited both those attributes under pressure on his way to winning two Masters Tournaments and 23 European Tour titles, while on a personal level, he displayed remarkable fortitude in battling back from a grave illness to capture that second Green Jacket in 1999.
“Among Jose Maria’s many other qualities we can add panache and flair, allied to a deep understanding of the history and traditions of the game. His arrival on the golfing scene was a breath of fresh air, displaying a Spanish passion and love for the sport, which was exemplified by his spontaneous victory jig on the 18th green at Muirfield Village in 1987 after Europe’s first Ryder Cup success on American soil.
“That year represented the start of a momentous Ryder Cup partnership with Seve Ballesteros which is still the most successful in the event’s history – played 15, won 11, halved 2. Jose Maria’s induction to the World Golf Hall of Fame is richly deserved and all of us at The European Tour convey our congratulations and best wishes to one of our most outstanding champions.”
Since turning professional in 1985, Olazabal has enjoyed much international success, winning the 1994 and 1999 Masters Tournaments, plus 21 European Tour and four additional PGA Tour titles. He also won in Japan twice.
Olazábal has represented Europe on seven Ryder Cup teams: 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999 and 2006, and served as assistant captain to Hall of Fame member Nick Faldo in 2008. He played on the 1989 and 2000 World Cup teams.
In his rookie season, Olazabal finished second on The European Tour Order of Merit and became the first Spaniard to receive the Tour’s Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award in 1986. His impressive amateur career included defeating Colin Montgomerie to win the 1984 Amateur Championship at the age of 18.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Jose Maria into the World Golf Hall of Fame,” said Jack Peter, senior vice president and chief operating officer of the World Golf Hall of Fame. “His tremendous achievements on the course, his flair and passion for the game represent the hallmarks of a true champion. He also is one of the game's greatest gentlemen and ambassadors. We look forward to his Induction this coming November.”
The final announcement for the 2009 Class of Inductees will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
The 2009 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla. on Monday, November 2.
About the Induction Process
There are five avenues for a player or contributor to enter the World Golf Hall of Fame: PGA Tour Ballot, International Ballot, LPGA Point System, Lifetime Achievement Category and Veterans Category.
Various criteria is set up for players to be eligible for the PGA Tour and International ballots, including an age requirement of at least 40 years old and a necessary performance that includes a substantial amount of regular tournament victories and majors.
The LPGA Point System requires a player to be an active member of the LPGA Tour for 10 years, acquire a cumulative 27 points based on LPGA tournament wins and to have won either an LPGA major tournament, Vare Trophy or Rolex Player of the Year honors, plus a number of other tournament victories.
Nominations for the Lifetime Achievement category are made by members of the International Voting Body. The category is designed for any male or female supporter of the sport whose primary role in the game has come outside the playing arena. The World Golf Foundation Board of Directors decides this category each year.
Any male or female professional or amateur who played the bulk of his/her career more than 30 years ago and may not have received proper recognition is eligible for selection through the Veterans Category. The World Golf Foundation Board of Directors also decides this category each year.
2009 International Candidates Results
Jose Maria Olazabal - 56 percent
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki - 40 percent
Sandy Lyle - 33 percent
Colin Montgomerie - 27 percent
Peter Alliss - 20 percent
2009 PGA Tour Candidates Results
Lanny Wadkins - 61 percent
Doug Ford - 46 percent
Mark O'Meara - 31 percent
Davis Love III - 27 percent
Ken Venturi - 26 percent
Fred Couples - 22 percent