The Golf Blog: Seve Ballesteros dies at age 54
The Golf Blog says: We share in the sorrow of the golf community over the passing of Seve Ballesteros, age 54, to complications from a brain tumor, diagnosed in 2007.
Seve Ballesteros was Tiger Woods before there was a Tiger Woods on tour. Flamboyant, emotional, and demonstrative, Seve was so exciting to watch–perhaps the most exciting player of his generation. Seve was also Phil Mickelson before there was a Phil Mickelson on tour. With probably the best short game the tour has seen in the past 50 years, Seve relied on his “escapability” and scrambling to bail him out of wayward tee shots (Seve’s Achilles heel)–like from the parking lot on the 16th hole at Royal & Lytham on his way to one of three British Open victories. What will Seve do next?, one could have just as easily asked back then. Seve went on to win 5 majors (including 2 Masters).
Along with Jose Maria Olazabal, Seve had the best duo record in Ryder Cup history and captained the European team to an amazing victory over the U.S. in his home country, Spain.
Although Seve retired from competitive golf relatively early in his career, his influence on the European Tour–the tour he carried for many years with his name–lives on to this day.
We feel privileged to have watched Seve play in person. He was brilliant, creative, and charismatic, not to mention, competitive. The golf world has lost a true legend.
Tweet