Olazabal won six titles in America, most recently the 2002 Buick Open

European Ryder Cup assistant Jose Maria Olazabal has revealed that he intends to return to playing in three weeks.

The 42-year-old Spaniard has not played competitively since he lost in a play-off in Open qualifying on 30 June.

Olazabal had been troubled by rheumatic pains then by fatigue thought to have been caused by medication.

He is no longer on the medication and said: "If things keep progressing as they have I'd like to be at the Madrid Masters (9 October)."

Olazabal, twice winner of the Masters, is thought to be a leading contender for the Ryder Cup captaincy in the 2010 match at Celtic Manor.

The Cup committee will meet in December to discuss the position.

Of his current fitness Olazabal, who won the last of his 22 European Tour titles in the 2005 Mallorca Classic, admitted: "I still can't work out very much because of how tired I get."

He remained confident of playing in Madrid and then the Castello Masters two weeks later, adding: "I've been playing 18 holes and practising on a regular basis."