Jose Maria Olazabal will 'leadership, experience and passion' to the 2012 European Ryder Cup team when he captains the side in Medinah, according to Lee Westwood.
Olazabal has been the overwhelming favourite to succeed Colin Montgomerie for some time and he is expected to be confirmed in the role when the European Tour's tournament committee meets in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
The Spaniard is a Ryder Cup veteran having played in seven competitions and he will take a wealth of experience to Chicago after acting as vice captain to Nick Faldo in 2008 before being drafted in to held Montgomerie at Celtic Manor last October.
Westwood was on the team on both occasions and he has welcomed the news of Olazabal's expected appointment as Europe's 2012 Ryder Cup skipper.
"Jose Maria has been a great Ryder Cup player and when he was involved with the vice-captaincy at Valhalla and at Celtic Manor he's been superb," Westwood told Reuters.
"When Jose Maria conducts a team talk or motivational talk everyone listens. He will bring leadership, experience and passion and is going to be fantastic when he leads the team at Medinah."
Olazabal has been plagued by injuries and ill-health during his career, but concerns about his health will not prevent him from being chosen, despite it being an essential requirement of the European Tour that a captain plays a full tournament schedule the Ryder Cup year.
"Everyone knows Ollie and no, I don’t see it as a problem if he is not around and playing that much,” Westwood explained.
"He should play enough events that will keep him abreast of what the likely team members are doing so that shouldn’t be a problem.”