Olazabal hopes Ryder Cup makes Ballesteros proud

MEDINAH, Ill. – Holding onto the Ryder Cup is only one of Jose Maria Olazabal's goals as European captain.

Next year's Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club will be the first since the death of Seve Ballesteros, whose "Spanish Armada" partnership with Olazabal was the most successful in the history of the trans-Atlantic competition. Ballesteros was both a friend and mentor to Olazabal, and he mentioned him shortly after being introduced Monday.

"Your father passed away ... I lost a dear friend and mentor not long ago," Olazabal said to U.S. captain Davis Love III. "I'm pretty sure both of them will be looking on us. When all is done, the only thing I can hope for is that both of them will be proud of us."

In 15 matches between 1987-93, Olazabal and Ballesteros won 11 and halved two.

Ballesteros died in May of brain cancer.