Txema Olazábal, like Seve Ballesteros in his day, received this Tuesday an honorary golf degree from the University of Saint Andrews, awarded by the Royal Burgh, a community council made up of 20 influential people from the area.
The event took place at the Young Hall, a hall of the Town Hall of the Scottish town where this week the 150th edition of the British Open is being held, a tournament that the Basque would exchange for one of his two green jackets.
“Right now,” he said. “And more in Saint Andrews”
Txema Olazábal, statements
Along with Olazábal, the successful European captain of the Solheim Cup Catriona Matthew, Sandy Lyle, Bob Charles and Lee Treviño have received the same distinction.
The act has taken place within the framework of the appointment of Jack Nicklaus as Honorary Citizen of Saint Andrews. All the honorees have walked along the main avenue of the town in a convertible receiving the affection of the people.
“I was very moved,” said Olazábal, remembering loved ones such as Seve Ballesteros and his soulmate and manager Sergio Gómez, who have since disappeared. Olazábal acknowledged that the distinction has come as a surprise.
“When I received the letter I was surprised, I got emotional, I thought about what I would have done to deserve it… It’s just that I’ve done something right,” added the Guipuzcoan. Of the tournament he last said that I have seen the field, hard, fast, the hard fairways and it will depend on the weather.
The Open is very open.” José María Olazábal (Fuenterrabía, February 5, 1966) is a Spanish golfer. He has twice won the Masters, one of four major golf tournaments. He has been for more than 300 weeks in the top ten players in the world of the Official World Golf Rankings and has been part of the European Ryder Cup team on seven occasions: the couple he formed on such occasions with each other is famous Spanish champion Severiano Ballesteros.
In his career he has won a total of 29 tournaments, 4 Ryder Cups and was captain of the victorious European team in 2012.
