
Jose Maria Olazabal reacts to a missed putt for eagle on No. 2. While the leaderboard mostly backtracked Sunday, he advanced to fourth place. (Michael Holahan/Augusta Chronicle)
Spaniard was solid at finish
Web posted 04/14/02
Tiger Woods wasn't the only winner at Augusta National Golf Club this week.
Butch Harmon also had a great showing.
Among the players coached by the renowned teaching professional are Woods and Jose Maria Olazabal.
The two-time Masters champion from Spain fired a final-round 71 on Sunday to finish solo fourth, with a 7-under-par total of 281. Other than Woods, Olazabal was the only player to shoot under par in all four rounds.
Olazabal's sharp iron play and brilliant short game are suited to Augusta National, but he never has been considered a great driver of the ball.
Under Harmon's tutelage, Olazabal has a wider backswing extension with his driver, intended to add length off the tee.
That's a big change for a 36-year-old who earned green jackets in 1994 and '99.
One thing that hasn't changed is his competitive spirit.
Earlier this week, Olazabal said he wasn't comfortable with his swing. But while the other contenders were backing up Sunday, Olazabal was moving up the leaderboard with steady play.
"I didn't putt that well, especially on the front nine," he said. "But overall I'm very happy."
Through 10 holes of Saturday's third round, Olazabal couldn't have been pleased - he stood 4-over for the round and had fallen to 1-under par for the tournament. He rallied to shoot 71, with an eagle on No. 13 and birdies on Nos. 11, 15 and 16.
"I'm very happy with the way my week has gone," Olazabal said. "I didn't play too well on the front nine Saturday. I had a couple of bad breaks, but managed to get it back on the back nine."
Harmon probably is happy, too, considering how his student has performed this season.
Olazabal has not missed a cut on the PGA Tour, and now has seven top 10 finishes, including a victory in the Buick Invitational.