Ryder Cup

Olazabal, Harrington and Jimenez named Europe vice-captains

ESPN staff

September 3, 2014

Jose Maria Olazabal, named as one of Paul McGinley's vice-captains, led the European team in the 2012 Ryder Cup © Getty Images

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Europe's Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has added Jose Maria Olazabal, Padraig Harrington and Miguel Angel Jimenez to his team of assistants ahead of the clash with the United States at Gleneagles later this month.

The trio join Sam Torrance and Des Smyth as vice-captains of the Europe team hoping to retain the Ryder Cup title they secured in dramatic fashion at the Medinah Country Club in 2012.

Captain McGinley has named Jose Maria Olazabal, Padraig Harrington and Miguel Angel Jimenez as assistant captains. pic.twitter.com/zoixuYLvmG
— Ryder Cup Team EUR (@rydercupEUROPE) September 3, 2014

Olazabal captained the Europe side that fought back to retain the Cup in 2012 at Medinah in Illinois. The Spaniard has represented Europe as a player seven times in the tournament, making his first appearance in 1987.

Three-time major champion Harrington has played for Europe in six Ryder Cups, last making an appearance in the 2010 victory at Celtic Manor.

Jimenez has the least Ryder Cup experience of the three, having appeared in four competitions, but the Spaniard was made a vice-captain in Olazabal's 2012 set-up.

Yesterday McGinley named Ian Poulter, Stephen Gallacher and Lee Westwood as his three wildcard picks to join Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Victor Dubuisson, Jamie Donaldson, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Thomas Bjorn and Graeme McDowell in Europe's line-up.