Olazabal offers himself as 2010 Ryder Cup captain

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LONDON (AP) -- Jose Maria Olazabal wants to captain Europe at the 2010 Ryder Cup, rather than wait until 2012.

According to the Spaniard's manager, Sergio Gomez, the two-time Masters champion who has played on three winning Ryder Cup teams would accept the role at Celtic Manor in Wales if it was offered.

Europe's committee will pick the captain Wednesday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Colin Montgomerie is also a candidate for the post.

"He is available. If he is offered the job he will say 'Yes'," Gomez said. "We know it is a matter of two and there are factors favoring Jose Maria and factors favoring Monty."

Europe's tournament committee will decide who gets the captaincy in Dubai next Wednesday.

Both players initially said they had hoped to get into the team as players for the event to be played on a Welsh course for the first time and Olazabal had suggested he would like the captaincy two year later.

But the Spaniard, who has been dogged for several years by rheumatic problems and a longterm injury to his foot, has played only two tournaments since last May while Montgomerie's form slumped a year ago. The Scot lost his place on the team that surrendered the title to the United States at Valhalla last September.

Gomez said Olazabal pulled out of the current Qatar Masters in Doha but hoped to play in next week's Dubai Desert Classic, where the Ryder Cup announcement will be made.

"He had a small problem with his wrists and forearms and it was painful when gripping the club, but not too severe and he told me yesterday to confirm the flights (to Dubai)," Gomez said.

"But the chances of him making the team are not what he wanted or expected, so he made up his mind that he would accept the captaincy if it was offered."