Olazabal makes his return

JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL will finally return to golf in Spain this week more than seven months after his last appearance.

The double Masters champion, out of action since last August because of rheumatic pains in his shoulders and groin, has been given a late sponsors' invitation to the Andalucian Open at Aloha starting on Thursday. The event gives 42-year-old Olazabal the competitive outing he wanted before flying across the Atlantic for next week's Houston Open and then the big one – The Masters at Augusta on April 10-13.

His last tournament was the final major of last year, the US PGA Championship, and, having already pulled out of The Open at Carnoustie, his problems were apparent there as he missed the halfway cut. After withdrawing from the World Cup in November, Olazabal said: "I believe I have another five or six good years in me and I want to get playing as soon as possible."

It is only now, however, that he feels well enough to resume his career.