He may joke of aches and pains that come with the advancing years but Jose Maria Olazabal’s wincing trials and tribulations over the seasons have been far from a laughing matter.
In this game for all the ages, though, there may be light at the end of the tunnel. While 40-year-old Tiger Woods makes his competitive comeback after 14 months on the sidelines in California this week, 50-year-old Olazabal will be make his return after some 17 months away in the slightly parkier climes of Watford in the British Masters.
Olazabal has not played since the second round of the 2015 Masters at Augusta due to the pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. It has been a long-running, debilitating problem for the Spaniard and one which has had a serious impact on his career and his life. Back in 1996, he feared he would be confined to a wheelchair as the searing agony in his feet became too much and he spent 18 months away from the game. "It's like I had needles in the joints of my toes and I was regularly warned for slow play when, in fact, I was walking slowly,” he once said of his torment.
As well as the British Masters, which starts at The Grove on Thursday, Olazabal has also pencilled the Portuguese Masters into his diary the following week.
"The problem is due to an inflammation of the extremities of the tendons and it's been a long process of recovery,” said the double Masters champion. "I hit rock bottom last December and started improving slowly from January.
"I am very excited to compete again. I want to see how the body can cope with the regular competition, rhythm of practice and 18 holes.
"The two weeks at the British Masters and Portugal Masters will be a good test to see if I can stand up all day. I want to see how it goes during the two weeks and that will help me to take a decision on whether I will keep on playing the European Tour or the senior circuit next season. We'll see how it goes.
"Although I'm feeling better, I'm still not at 100 per cent. The pain is not so bad now, it gets a bit painful from time to time but I think that's just getting old."
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