This is the time of year when the world's top pros expect their game to start clicking. Three of the four majors on the golf circuit come up in a short space of time.

The U.S. Open at Southern Hills in Oklahoma is just a few weeks away and that will be followed in July by the British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Anne's and finally the U.S. PGA Championship a month later at the Atlanta Athletic Club.

But, this year, the action doesn't end there as we have the Ryder Cup in September.

Only 12 players can get into each team for the Ryder Cup, and the pros have to work pretty hard to earn one of the precious spots.

The Ryder Cup will be held from Sept. 28 to 30 at The Belfry in England.

One of those hoping to make an impact there will be two-time Masters winner Jose Maria Olazabal, who is now 35.

It's often the case that golfers "hit the wall" between the ages of 35 and 40 and many see a decline in their performance and earnings. Winning becomes a lot tougher.

Olazabal had a different kind of "wall" to contend with a few years ago when he was diagnosed was rheumatoid polyarthritis in his right foot.

He could only play seven tournaments during the 1995 season and couldn't play any the following year. The pain was so bad in his right foot, it took him 18 months to recover and get back on the circuit.

I remember Olazabal's comeback win at the Turespana Masters early in 1997. I was covering Tiger Woods at the Phoenix Open in Arizona that same week, but I watched the Spanish star on TV.

As he walked up the 18th fairway to victory on Sunday afternoon, he held his head down, which I thought was curious. He was obviously trying to control his emotions, and as he looked up briefly, you could see the tears glistening on his cheeks.

It was wonderful to see such a professional player recovered and showing the world his talent again. Olazabal added three other wins after the Turespana Masters, including his famous victory in the 1999 Masters.

However, Olazabal showed his real quality in the Ryder Cup and formed one of Europe's strongest pairs when he teamed up with Seve Ballesteros.

In 1987, Olazabal made an outstanding Ryder Cup debut, teaming up with Seve to beat Larry Nelson and Payne Stewart in the morning foursomes, followed by a 2-and-1 win over Curtis Strange and Tom Kite in the afternoon fourball match.

The Spanish duo spurred Europe to another victory and Olazabal established himself as a rock on the team.

However, he was forced to miss the Ryder Cup in 1995 due to his foot problems. Now he's looking to get back into the swing of things.

Ten of the 12 players are chosen based on their performance in the year and a half running up to the Ryder Cup. Two are captain's choices.

Olazabal was in 16th place in the Ryder Cup rankings before he won the oldest championship in continental Europe -- the French Open -- at the beginning of May.

He threw a big monkey off his back with this win, jumping up the Ryder Cup rankings to sixth place and virtually guaranteeing himself a place on the team.

"Even if the cup is not a top priority, I still want make the team," Olazabal commented after his French win. "This victory is an important step toward doing that."

The Ryder Cup ended in disarray and acrimony last time around when the U.S. team celebrated a great comeback prematurely on the 17th green after Justin Leonard's mammoth putt. Sergio Garcia's caddie was also attacked.

The European players are out for revenge this year, but they want to do it with decorum -- and with golf.

Olazabal's huge experience as a six-time Ryder Cup player and his gentlemanly poise on the course will be crucial to the team this year, so his French victory couldn't have come at a better time.

I suspect he hasn't hit the "wall" yet and you can be sure he'll have a few more surprises up his sleeve this summer.