Olazabal ready to return to traditional wild card process

Colin Montgomerie afforded himself three captain's picks for the last match at Celtic Manor, which Europe won by a single point.

Because of the qualifying system in place, world No 7 Paul Casey failed to make the team by merit and was also overlooked by the Scot for a wild card selection.

It was thought that a switch to four picks – a policy employed by the US captain since 2008 – would be the next move by a European captain.

But Olazabal, who was named as the man to lead Europe's defence at Medinah, revealed he favoured a return to the traditional format over an increase to four choices.

"Obviously I have a couple of things in my mind, but I don't think I will change it drastically," he said of the selection process.

"Monty had three picks. I can assure you that I'm not asking for any extra picks. I'm going to be clear on that straightaway.

"If anything, I'll try to reduce it back to two, but we'll have to sit down and talk about it."

Asked for his reasoning, Olazabal said: "To make it fair on the points system, on the playing system.

"The more picks you get, the less value I think you give to the players that finish from eight to 10, and I think to finish in the top 10, you have to play great golf, and it was proven the last time.

"To make the top nine – five through the world rankings and four through the European Tour rankings – you needed to have an extremely great year.

"And it would be a shame to have to tell any of those guys, 'you're not in'."

Corey Pavin's successor as American captain will be unveiled tomorrow.

It is expected to be Davis Love III, one of Pavin's backroom team in Wales.