About
During a Concorde flight to the 1999 Ryder Cup, Olazábal set the world record for the longest putt—over 9 miles—by holing a putt along the entire cabin as the plane traveled at 1,270 mph.
José María Olazábal is a legendary figure in golf, both as a professional player and golf course architect. Born in the Basque town of Hondarribia, Spain, Olazábal started playing golf as a child, inspired by his father, a greenskeeper. His early exposure to the sport led to an exceptional amateur career, including winning The Amateur Championship in 1984. Turning professional in 1985, Olazábal secured over 30 professional victories worldwide, including two Masters titles (1994, 1999). He was renowned for his successful Ryder Cup partnership with Seve Ballesteros and, as European captain, led the team to a dramatic 'Miracle at Medinah' victory in 2012. Beyond his playing career, Olazábal has dedicated over 25 years to golf course design with his firm Olazabal Design, creating more than 23 courses worldwide and earning major accolades, such as World’s Best New Golf Course for his Olympic Course in Costa Navarino, Greece.
