Seve Ballesteros burst on to the scene during the Open at Birkdale in
1976 aged 19. The young flamboyant golfer matched Johny Miller to
share the lead after three rounds.
Seve fell away during the last round, then rallied to a late birdie
flurrish to finish joint second with Jack Nicklaus.
This was a taste of what was to come for the young Spanish talent.
Seve Ballesteros was born in Pedrena, Spain on April 9, 1957. The
youngest of four brothers, all professional golfers, following in the
footsteps of their uncle, Roman Sota. Roman was one of the first
Spanish golfers to make their mark on the game, finishing sixth in the
Masters.
But it was Seve's instinctive flair, imagination and ability
to manufacture unlikely shots which was to set him above he's uncle and
he's brothers to become a Spanish golfing legend, and later a world
golfing legend.
Seve became obsessed with golf and was a scratch player by the age of
12! Seve soon new where he was going and became Spain's youngest
professional golfer aged 16.
Three years after bursting on to the scene at Birkdale, Ballesteros
arrived at Royal Lytham to win the Open Championship and he's first
Major. Heading out for the final round, Seve was two shots behind
reigning US Open Champion, Hale Irwin.
Wayward of the tee, Seve used he's mastery of recovery to pile on the
pressure , finally winning the Open by three shots from Jack Nicklaus
and Ben Crenshaw and becoming the youngest Open winner since Young Tom
Morris.
In 1980 Seve arrived at Augusta to become the first European to win the
Masters.
Seve cemented he's legendary statues in 1984 at St. Andrews, the home
of golf. Ballesteros was up against two of the leading players of the
time- Bernhard Langer and Tom Watson. This amazing three way battle had
Seve at he's battling best, paring the 17th after finding the rough to
the left of the fairway, Seve then thinking he needed a birdie at the
last duly obliged, winning by a two shot victory.
Seve Ballesteros loves to win, and is a great matchplay competitor.
Seve won the World Matchplay title at Wentwirth on numerous occasions
and commented that playing at Wntworth was like playing at home.
He's fine matchplay held him in good stead for the Ryder Cub,
representing Europe eight times and winning 20 matches!
Seve Ballesteros brought golf to Europe and made golf what it is today.
He's flamboyant style and remarkable shot making made golf exciting to
millions of fans around the world.
Seve is recovering from a brain tumor and has stated that this is the
greatest fight of he's life. With Seve's fighting spirit and
determination he is making yet again another remarkable recovery. We
wish him a full recovery and a long life.
Achievements:
Masters winner 1980, 1983, US Open 3rd 1987,
Open Championship 1979, 1984, 1988, USPGA 5th 1984.
Ryder Cup Record: Member of 8 European teams (1979,
1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995) Played 37, Won 20, Lost 12,
Halved 5. Captain in 1997.
