Olazabal tried to make a comeback at a pro-am event in Majorca in May

Spain's injury-plagued Jose Maria Olazabal is to play his first event of the year when he contests the French Open, which starts on Thursday.

The 44-year-old, who has been sidelined with rheumatic shoulder pain, has not played since last October.

"I cannot say I'm feeling good or 100% pain-free but there has been some improvement," he said. "I feel better, but still have pain in my shoulders.

"I'm giving it a try this week but it's definitely the rest of the summer off."

Olazabal triumphed in the Masters in 1994 and 1999 but won the last of his 29 professional titles back in 2005.

"It's just a game of wait and see, but it feels like a slow process - it feels like the finishing line is near, but you never get to it," he said of his spate of injury problems.

"I haven't been able to practise like one should."

The Spaniard was first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in the 1990s - and he revealed has not found a cure for his latest ailment.

"I've been in a lot of pain. When you struggle to lift a glass of water, it's quite severe," he said.

"I've seen a bunch of doctors, been all over the place but they really can't pinpoint what is causing it."

Having been vice-captain to Nick Faldo in the 2008 Ryder Cup, Olazabal had been tipped as a possible successor to Colin Montgomerie for the 2012 competition but said: "It depends on my condition more than anything else.

"Sure I want it but the decision is not mine and a couple of things have to come into place."

Montgomerie wanted him as an assistant at Celtic Manor this year although Olazabal said: "I've pretty much made up my mind, but that's private. My main target is just to get better."

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