Jose Maria Olazabal insists he would rather play in the next Ryder Cup than skipper the European side.

The Spaniard is the bookmakers' favourite to take over from Nick Faldo at Celtic Manor having assisted the six-time major winner in Europe's defeat to the United States at Valhalla.

Olazabal's hopes of playing in this year's match were ruined by injury, but he hopes to put his problems behind him in the near future and qualify by right for 2010.

"I told the boys that my intention is that if I get healthy I might hopefully be a playing partner in the next Ryder Cup and then we'll see after that but time will tell," he said.

Olazabal maintains that, even if the European Golf Union asked him, he would be not be in a position to accept any time soon.

Improving

"If they wanted a decision by the end of this year, I'm not going to be able to give them that," he said.

"The scenario is that my condition is improving and I'm feeling better. I'm not 100 per cent pain-free but I'm hoping that I might be able to play one or two events at the end of the year to see how the back holds up.

"I'm looking next year to be back playing golf and that's why I cannot give an answer that soon.

Asked to name the possible replacements should Faldo not stay at the helm, Olazabal speculated: "There's a bunch of guys. Sandy Lyle, he's been there and being in Wales another possibility is Ian Woosnam.

"But I think it's early days. We'll have to see what the PGA decides, see what choices we have and then make a decision."