Jose Maria Olazabal favourite for Ryder Cup captaincy

Olazabal (right) was Montgomerie's assistant in the 2010 victory

Europe's 2012 Ryder Cup captain is set to be named in January, with Jose Maria Olazabal the favourite to get the job.

The European Tour is holding a media conference about the Ryder Cup on 18 January, the day the captaincy is being discussed by its tournament committee.

Olazabal, 44, has played in seven Ryder Cups and been assistant captain in two.

"It seems almost certain the decision on who will succeed [2010 captain] Colin Montgomerie has already been made," said BBC reporter Iain Carter.

Olazabal made his Ryder Cup debut in 1987, and has earned a place in tournament history as part of the most successful-ever partnership, with fellow Spaniard Seve Ballesteros.

606: DEBATE Discuss golf in 606

He was assistant to Nick Faldo in 2008 and Montgomerie in 2010, when he was a contender to be outright captain, but hesitated over making himself available.

Following this year's 14.5-13.5 win for Europe over the USA at Celtic Manor, Montgomerie ruled himself out of the running to be captain again at Medinah in Chicago in two years' time, saying he wanted to play, but gave Olazabal his backing.

The only doubt over Olazabal's suitability was his long-running battle with rheumatic pain, which meant he only played in one tournament in the first nine months of this year.

But he would appear to have given the Tour the health assurances it needs and earned its endorsement.