"The colours, the light ... my Masters wins are special'

José Maria Olazabal looks back on his two victories before a 35th appearance at Augusta National this week

- Ewan Murray

What little pressure José María Olazábal felt at the 1999 Masters emanated from gallery bias. Greg Norman's capitulation at Augusta National three years earlier represented painful viewing for anybody other than dedicated followers of Nick Faldo. On Masters Sunday in 1999, Norman was back in the final group. Olazábal stood in his way.

"There was no question about that," says the Spaniard when asked whether Augusta's patrons were pushing for Norman to prevail. "He was the fan favourite. Everybody wanted him to win because of what had happened before.

"It was not difficult in the sense we had a good relationship. We had played together there a few times before that. Both being 'foreigners' in the States, we understood each other really well. Greg was perfectly respectful on the course." Indeed, when Olazábal followed up Norman's eagle at the 13th by converting a crucial birdie of his own, there was a very public show of appreciation by the latter.

In the 25 years that have transpired since what was a second Masters success - he also triumphed in 1994 - Olazábal has forgotten very little. "My body is feeling old compared to those days, so something must have happened in between," he says with a smile.

"I remember both of them very clearly. Those are very special moments. Hopefully I will never forget them. They were both different, no question about that, but I remember it all very vividly.

I can still remember the lead up to the tournaments, how I got there, even how I felt.