Seve Trophy: Jose-Maria Olazabal targets end to Europe's dismal record in competition
Last Updated: 07/07/15 3:25pm
![Jose Maria Olazabal: Motivated by Europe's poor record](https://uatimg.skysports.com/13/10/768x432/olazabal_3012934.jpg?20131002185441)
Jose Maria Olazabal says his Europe side are determined to improve their dismal Seve Trophy record this week.
The biennial contest between Great Britain & Ireland and the rest of the continent begins on Thursday in Golf de Saint-Nom-la-Breteche in France.
History is against Olazabal's side on the back of six straight defeats, but the Spaniard plans to use that shocking run as a motivating factor rather than invoking the spirit of his late friend Seve Ballesteros.
He told Sky Sports News: "Obviously I might say I few words about Seve.
"But the boys are motivated enough, especially because of our record in this event."
Standing in the opposite corner to Olazabal is Sam Torrance, like his opposite number a winning Ryder Cup captain.
The Scot said: "It's a great honour. There's very little pressure on the captain - you just point the players in the right direction and they go and do the job."
Every player will be in action during Thursday's fourballs, with Thomas Bjorn and Miguel Angel Jimenez paired for the opening tie against Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher.
Thursday fourballs:
Bjorn/Jimenez v Lawrie Gallacher
Ilonen/Olesen v Fleetwood/Wood
Molinari/Manassero v Casey/Khan
Luiten/Burdy v Donaldson/Lynn
Colsaerts/Fernandez-Castano v Warren/Jamieson
Day one of the Seve Trophy is live on Sky Sports 1 from 10.30am on Thursday