Olazabal touched by friend's words

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. --- Emotions ran the spectrum Monday at the World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as the institution welcomed three champions from humble roots and its first occupant from the White House.

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Jose Maria Olazabal celebrates his Masters Tournament win at Augusta National in 1994.

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Lanny Wadkins, a truck driver's son from Richmond, Va.; Jose Maria Olazabal, the son of a greenskeeper from the Basque region of Spain; and Christy O'Connor Sr., a quiet man with a sweet swing from Galway, Ireland, increased the Hall's membership to 130 in ceremonies held at the World Golf Village Outdoor Theater.

Also entering the Hall, on a posthumous basis, was President Eisenhower, whose love of the game in the 1950s has been credited by golf historians with a surge that more than doubled the number of players in the U.S. during the time he was in office.

Before Olazabal was inducted, an emotional video by Seve Ballesteros, Olazabal's mentor and Ryder Cup teammate, was played.

Ballesteros, who entered the Hall of Fame 10 years ago, could not make the trip because of his nearly yearlong battle with brain cancer.

Both he and Olazabal are two-time Masters Tournament champions.

In making the presentation speech for Olazabal, Ballesteros advised his friend: "Enjoy this special moment, and from me, receive a big hug."

Olazabal came to the podium in tears after watching the speech made by the first Spanish player to make the Hall of Fame, and the partner with whom he compiled an 11-2-2 Ryder Cup record.

"I was never a genius like you," Olazabal said in response to Ballesteros. "All I could hope for is you were proud of me."

In addition to his 18-8-2 Ryder Cup record, Olazabal has two Masters Tournament titles and 29 worldwide championships.

Another emotional moment was the video message given by O'Connor, 84, who was not healthy enough to travel from Ireland.

"I am so sad to be unable to be there," said O'Connor, who won 24 European PGA Tour titles and at one time held the Ryder Cup record for most appearances. "I've been walking on air since this was announced."

There was cause for celebration among the Wadkins family and a large circle of friends who came to St. Augustine to watch the induction of a man who won 21 times on the PGA Tour, including the 1977 PGA Championship.

His Ryder Cup record of 20-11-3 is exceeded in victories only by Arnold Palmer.

Palmer himself accepted the induction on behalf of the family of President Eisenhower, the first president to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Palmer said the president encouraged the growth of golf through his visible and unabashed love of the game.

Reach Garry Smits at garry.smits@jacksonville.com.