Ballesteros spirit key to Ryder Cup win – Olazabal

Europe fought back from 10-4 down at one stage to win the Ryder Cup by a single point in Chicago in one of the most dramatic comebacks in sporting history.

As thoughts now turn to who might lead the quest to retain the trophy at Gleneagles in 2014 – with Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley the front-runners – it was the image of Ryder Cup legend Ballesteros that was never far from the mind’s eye on an unforgettable Sunday night for European golf.

“Seve’s been on my mind the whole week, during the whole journey of this Ryder Cup,” said Olazabal of his great friend and inspirational playing partner who died of brain cancer in May, 2011.

“We had his silhouette and his name on the last day but obviously I had Seve in my mind every day.

“When we managed to retain the trophy, all those memories were very vividly coming to life.

“If someone had written a script for it, that would be the ideal one and for it to happen, Seve had to have something to do with it.”

Clarke and McGinley served as two of Olazabal’s assistants at Medinah as Europe won for only the fourth time on American soil.

The European Tour’s tournament committee chaired by Dane Thomas Bjorn, another of the vice-captains, are expected to make a decision in January.

Rory McIlroy believes that whoever is chosen “will be a great captain”, but added: “I’ve always said I think Clarkey would be a great captain here in America. I think the crowds really love him, so maybe save Darren for 2016.”

McIlroy played under McGinley’s captaincy at the 2009 Seve Trophy in Paris and added: “He was fantastic there and has also been a fantastic vice-captain.”

Olazabal also called on compatriot Miguel Angel Jimenez at Medinah to be considered.

The Americans are likely to name their successor to Davis Love in December and there are bound to be calls for successful Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples to step up from being an assistant this time.

Couples, however, has already agreed to stay on for a third match against the International side, which takes place at Muirfield Village in Ohio in October next year. That could open the door for someone like David Toms, a member of three Ryder Cup teams.