Olazabal calls for Ryder Cup overhaul

Jose Maria Olazabal believes the system of picking Europe's Ryder Cup side should be changed. The Spaniard also claimed that captain Sam Torrance's decision to chose Jesper Parnevik as his second wild card had been made a long time ago.

Olazabal had to win the BMW International Open in Munich at the weekend to edge Welshman Phillip Price out of the 10th and last automatic spot, but finished only 13th.

The 35-year-old said: "A change is needed as soon as possible to the system of electing players for the Ryder Cup team." It is the first time Olazabal has not been part of the selected side since his debut in 1987.

Torrance believed that Olazabal, who with Seve Ballesteros formed the most successful partnership in Ryder Cup history, simply lacked the form to put him ahead of Parnevik for his second wild card.

The Swede is ranked 21st in the world to Olazabal's 63rd and, while Parnevik was Europe's top performer in the US PGA championship last month, Olazabal has not had a top-10 finish since he won the French Open at the start of May.

However Olazabal believed the decision was made earlier. "It was obvious that Torrance was not going to choose me. He made some comments in May and then I slowly realised that my chances of being in the team were nearly impossible."