WThe little pressure that José María Olazábal felt during the 1999 Masters came from gallery bias. Greg Norman’s capitulation at Augusta National three years earlier was a painful sight for all but devoted followers of Nick Faldo. On Masters Sunday in 1999, Norman was again in the final group. Olazábal stood in his way.
“There was no doubt about that,” the Spaniard said when asked whether Augusta patrons were pushing for Norman to triumph. “He was the fan favorite. Everyone wanted him to win because of what happened before.
“It wasn’t difficult in the sense that we had a good relationship. We had played there together a few times. Since we were both “foreigners” in the United States, we understood each other very well. Greg was completely respectful on the course.”
When Olazábal followed Norman’s eagle on the 13th by converting a crucial birdie himself, there was a very public show of appreciation from the latter.
In the 25 years that have passed since what was a second Masters success – he also triumphed in 1994 – Olazábal has forgotten very little. “My body feels old compared to that time, so something must have happened in between,” he says, smiling.
“I remember them both very clearly. Those are very special moments. Hopefully I will never forget them. They were both different, there’s no doubt about that, but I remember it all very vividly. I can still remember the run-up to the tournaments, how I got there and even how I felt.
“Of the two, 1999 was the one I enjoyed the most. There are a number of reasons for this. In 1994 I was so focused that nothing distracted me on the golf course. I was so focused on doing what I had to do on each take. I didn’t really let all the good things about the atmosphere of the tournament sink in.
“Things were different in 1999. I had health problems for two years, to the point where I thought I would never play golf again. When I found myself in that situation again, I realized that I was very happy. I enjoyed every step I took on the golf course, especially on Sunday. The colors, the light, the atmosphere… I remember telling my caddy on the 16th that we should enjoy these moments, that they don’t happen often.”
Olazábal felt a freedom in 1999 that did not apply five years earlier. A group of Europeans had tasted great glory; Olazábal was in danger of becoming an eternal almost-man.
“In 1994 I couldn’t sleep,” he remembers of the gap between rounds three and four. “A lot of the wins in 1999 were related to 1994, because I had already gotten the monkey off my back. That made me more relaxed, I didn’t have to prove myself or prove anything to anyone on that course. I had shown that I was good enough to win a major.”
Olazábal is right when he refers to his fitness problems, which were acute. He missed every major in 1996 and feared his career was over because of a foot problem. Even walking caused serious problems. Olazábal was moved to tears after beating Lee Westwood in Tenerife in early 1997 for a European Tour title. A change of doctor and approach had cured his ailment.
Much better was to come. Yet Olazábal arrived in Georgia in 1999 with other concerns. “When I arrived at Augusta in 1994 I was playing well, I was very happy with my overall game,” he says. “In 1999 I had big problems with my driver. The rest of my game was very sharp, but…’ Olazábal couldn’t find the fairways. Help was available from a Spanish golf icon.
“On Monday and Tuesday I played with Seve,” Olazábal says about Ballesteros. “After the second practice round he came to me. “Can I say something to you?” “Of course, Seve!” We spent a lot of time together, I always listened to what he had to say. But normally it was about chipping, short game, bunker shots.
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“He said, ‘Your iron play and short game are really good. I know you’re having trouble with the driver. Why not try slowing down your backswing? Swing the club much slower. Just try to keep the ball in play off the tee. If you do that, the rest of the game will be good enough to be competitive and maybe even challenge for the title.” I played nine holes on Wednesday, swinging the club which seemed much slower and keeping the ball in play. It worked for the rest of the week.”
The 13th proved to be Norman’s highlight. He dropped shots on each of the next two holes, with Davis Love III beating him into second place. Olazábal won with two points, eight under par.
Olazábal’s moment was in many ways defining as the end of an era. Tiger Woods quickly dominated. No other European would win the Masters until Danny Willett in 2016. Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle, Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer had donned Green Jackets at the same stage as Olazábal.
“The courts and conditions we played in Europe made you a better player,” Olazábal says. “Don’t get me wrong, in Europe we have great players today, but it will be very difficult to achieve such a performance again at the Masters.
“I had played with Tiger at Augusta in 1995. You could immediately see that he had enormous potential. He hit the ball extremely far and quite straight. He had no distance control with his irons because he had so much speed. He went to Butch Harmon to change his swing and the rest is history. Tiger has increased interest in the game around the world.”
It is Olazábal’s merit that he is back in the Masters field this week. And not for the last time either. This will mark his 35th Masters appearance. “I don’t know how many, but hopefully I can play a few more,” he says
“I like being there. All the memories you collect make the place so special. Every time I visit, I feel at peace with myself.”