2012 Ryder Cup winning Captain and Nespresso Golf Ambassador, José María Olazábal has spoken exclusively to Nespresso, the Official Coffee Supplier to The 2014 Ryder Cup, about his favourite Ryder Cup memories throughout his career.
In the first of a series of four short videos released ahead of The 2014 Ryder Cup, Nespresso presented José María with a beautiful picture book of his Ryder Cup journey through the years; from his first tournament at Muirfield Village in Ohio in 1987 to his successful captaincy of the triumphant European 2012 Ryder Cup team in Medinah, Illinois – and we watched his emotional reactions as he relived each moment.
With a glittering Ryder Cup career record of eighteen wins, five halves and eight losses, José María was at his most candid as he spoke about what The Ryder Cup meant to him and how it felt to be captain of Europe in one of the greatest golf tournaments in the world. The book stirred José María’s emotions as he spoke about his memories and the close friendships he forged during the tournaments. He also delivered an exclusive message to those players who will be fortunate enough to be involved this time around at Gleneagles.
He said “Looking through Nespresso’s picture book it was great re-living those magical moments down the years. It reminded me just how special and unique the tournament is and I can’t wait for The 2014 Ryder Cup to get started.
In the most candid moment of the video José María turns the page to see an image which captured him climbing on the shoulders of his great friend and golfing icon Seve Ballesteros, and momentarily allows his emotions to come to the surface.
“This is one of the best. This is at Kiawah with Seve. And I just hit my second shot onto the green and I couldn’t see the ball and I jumped on Seve’s shoulders to have a look at the ball on the green. Any picture with Seve is special” he said.
Finally as the picture book brings Olazábal up to date with an image of his tournament winning European Team hoisting him aloft following the victory. He reflects: “This is the final moment. The picture on the putting green on that Sunday. A fantastic moment. This was the pinnacle of the week. The pinnacle of my golfing career as a Ryder Cup player and captain because what they did on that Sunday was unique. It was because of them.”
Adding “So to the twelve of you. Thank you very much and good luck this time at Gleneagles.”
A bespoke NespressoCoffee Bar boutique will be set up in Gleneagles for The 2014 Ryder Cup giving golf fans the chance to sample some of Nespresso’s finest coffee as they visit the tournament. Whilst enjoying their coffee visitors can check out the state of the art Nespresso social wall – a giant digital screen that will be displaying all the best tweets from the biggest Ryder Cup influencers around the globe.
“We have a brilliant, long standing relationship with José María Olazábal and we wanted to present him with this picture book as a show of our appreciation, and also to celebrate José María’s fantastic Ryder Cup career. We’re extremely proud to be the Official Coffee Supplier to this year’s tournament and we look forward to welcoming José María at Gleaneagles for The 2014 Ryder Cup”commented Stéphane Detaille, International Sponsoring & Events Manager from Nestlé Nespresso SA.
