LONDON (PA) -- Jose Maria Olazabal, out of action since August with rheumatism, has entered next week's Qatar Masters on the European Tour.
Named last May as one of Nick Faldo's assistants for the 2008 Ryder Cup, Olazabal stated then that he still hoped to play his way onto the team and earn his eighth appearance. But the 41-year-old's health deteriorated, and as he began his layoff, memories were revived of the 18 months he was out of the game in the mid-1990s.
On that occasion, he feared his future would be in a wheelchair after rheumatoid arthritis in both his feet was initially diagnosed, but that diagnosis was changed to a prolapsed disc in his lower back and he was able to return.
This time it was initially his knee, then his shoulder and groin that gave him problems, but he started to practice again just before Christmas.
"I was worried I was going to be out for a long time again because of the amount of pain I went through," he said. "I forced myself to play the PGA (Championship, his last appearance) to fulfill my number of tournaments in the States even though I knew my condition was not the best.
"I've seen a lot of doctors and they've done all kinds of tests," he added. "They know it's some kind of rheumatism, but they don't know what has caused it and it's just a matter of treating the symptoms until they go away."
VIRUS HITS FERRIE HARD: The virus that put England's Kenneth Ferrie out of the Sony Open in Hawaii last weekend has hit him in the pocket as well as the stomach.
Ferrie, playing his first event since coming through PGA TOUR Q-School, was tied for 20th after rounds of 66 and 70, but did not hit another shot. He made the cut but had to withdraw on Saturday because of his illness.
He was paid only last-place money of just under $9,00, but that does not count toward the money list and he earned no FedExCup points, either. He isn't playing this week's Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.
MISSING A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY?: European Tour players may be missing out on a relatively easy passage into July's British Open at Royal Birkdale. International final qualifying (IFQ) starts in South Africa on Tuesday with just 62 players instead of the maximum 120 competing for the four spots up for grabs.
There is not one member of the world's top 300 in the field and only 14 Europeans, despite the fact that many more were competing on the same Royal Johannesburg Golf Club course last week in the Joburg Open.
Some of them have flown on to this week's Abu Dhabi Championship, but others could have stayed on and taken the chance to book their places this summer alongside defending champion Padraig Harrington, Tiger Woods and the rest.
"This home qualifier is a great opportunity to get your ticket to Royal Birkdale sewn up early in the season," said South African Mark Murless, who led for the Joburg Open for three days last week before slipping to fifth.
The 36-hole qualifying tournament is set for Tuesday and Wednesday. Other 36-hole qualifying events follow in Australia, Asia, Europe and America later in the year.
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