Seve wants Olazabal to help Montgomerie

SEVE Ballesteros would love to see Jose Maria Olazabal become one of Colin Montgomerie's assistants at the Ryder Cup in October.

Olazabal has expressed doubts about repeating the role he did for Nick Faldo two years ago, but Ballesteros believes his friend and long-time Ryder Cup playing partner has all the credentials for the role.

"I think Jose Maria would be fantastic support," said Ballesteros. "He is very well-respected and all the players like being in his company. He has fantastic experience from previous Ryder Cups and it will help him get more for the future.

"I am sure that one day Jose Maria will become captain in the Ryder Cup, maybe in 2012."

Ballesteros was speaking a few hours after the injury-hit career of Olazabal took another painful twist when rheumatism forced the Spaniard to withdraw from this week's Majorca Open.

However, the 44-year-old may play in the European Tour's showpiece event, the PGA Championship, next week, should the latest bout of pain hold off. If Olazabal goes to Wentworth he could hold talks with Montgomerie but the Spanish player still seems reluctant about a vice captain's role in Wales.

"I haven't talked to Colin after he was named captain," Olazabal said. "I already had that post. It's a useful job but it's more or less no-man's land. Being captain would be quite another thing."