Spanish golfer Jos Mara Olazbal, a two-time Masters champion among his many accolades, will receive the Mara de Villota Award on January 19 for his career achievements in the world of golf. He acknowledged that the current situation, with two professional tours, "is complicated" and shows no sign of reconciliation in the short term.
The athlete from Fuenterraba does not foresee an agreement between the LIV tour, which has attracted some of the sport's biggest names, and the PGA Tour, the traditional tour that hosts the major tournaments. "It's a complicated situation, and there's no common ground between the opposing sides."
Olazbal, statements
Along with the Spanish golfer, Vicente Del Bosque, Edurne Pasaban, Alex Palou, and Paula Leitn will also receive the award. The award recognizes their fighting spirit and courage, similar to that embodied by Mara de Villota, a prominent racing driver who died in 2013 from injuries sustained in an accident a year earlier.
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For Jos Mara Olazbal, recognition is a privilege and an honor: "It's like winning one of the biggest events you can achieve in your sport and seeing the names that came before you."
Currently, Jos Mara continues to compete in the senior category and dedicates the rest of his time to helping "the next generations" and passing on what he has learned throughout his career.
Regarding the new generations, Olazbal believes that "they have a very good outlook and must be prepared for tough times. It's a solitary life, and you have to be prepared for that solitude."
Jos Mara Olazbal, 59, advises athletes to be mentally prepared. "You have to cultivate and train it, keep fighting with the necessary tools." During his professional career, he has won the Masters Tournament and the Ryder Cup as both a player and captain. "Major titles are what define an athlete's career," he emphasized.
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Olazabal offered a suggestion regarding public perception of golf: "Ideally, we should popularize this sport with public courses so that ordinary people can try it and see what a great sport it is and how it prepares you for life."
