Oliver Wilson says Europe's top golfers are determined to win the Royal Trophy for Seve Ballesteros as he continues to recover from brain surgery.

Wilson said being able to dedicate a third successive victory against Asia to the man who did most to launch the annual 'Clash of the Continents' was a powerful incentive for the European team.

But he admitted that the man selected by Seve himself for the job for this third edition of the championship, Jose Maria Olazabal, had shown just as much passion for team golf as his legendary Ryder Cup partner. That passion shone through as Olazabal addressed his players at the tournament's Gala Dinner. His remarks held everyone in the audience transfixed.

Olazabal commented: "We are up against a strong and confident Asian team, but you have all played great golf throughout your careers. I believe in you."

Nick Dougherty said: "That moment made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. You could have heard a pin drop in the room while Olly was speaking. It was spine-tingling".

Wilson was equally inspired by Olazabal's burning commitment to the European cause. But he said it came as no surprise after his performance as Nick Faldo's assistant at the Ryder Cup last September.

Wilson explained: Olly was great at the Gala Dinner. His passion really shines through. It was the same at The Ryder Cup – every time he spoke he nearly had us in tears. The speech he made on the Saturday night at Valhalla was phenomenal.

"I think he is enjoying himself immensely this week, but he is feeling a bit of pressure with Seve’s situation and the circumstances surrounding him being Captain. "But he was fantastic at The Ryder Cup and the couple of speeches he has made to the team this week tell you how emotional and passionate he is. You want that, because it filters through to the team.

"When you think about what this week is all about, with Seve’s health adding to the poignancy of the occasion, it is a big deal. It is a big tournament and it’s going to be great to be part of it.

“We haven’t gone round saying: ‘let’s win it for Seve’ or anything like that, but that feeling definitely exists. I think everyone knows that if we can win here it could give him a lot of positivity. If we can do anything like that to help then it would be great."

Olazabal also showed he was not above employing some Seve-style mind games as he congratulated Japanese golf phenomenon Ryo Ishikawa on being selected for Asia. Olly commented: "I would like to talk about the kid on the Asian team, and say to him that he should feel very proud to have made the team at just 17."

On the face of it those remarks were totally complimentary. But calling Ishikawa a 'kid' and announcing he should be proud just to be here clearly suggested that was as good as it would get for him.

It is a ploy Seve has used many times to put added pressure on an inexperienced member of the opposition.