|
When news emerged in October 2008 that Seve Ballesteros was gravely ill in a Madrid hospital, shock waves were felt all around the world – and not just among the golfing fraternity. For Seve is one of those very special breed of sportsmen – like Mohammed Ali, David Beckham and Bjorn Borg – who transcends his sporting environment to command respect and affection wherever he goes. With his movie star good looks and overwhelming zest for life, he is, and always will be, 'Senor Golf'.
He was born and grew up in northern Spain, in the idyllic small town of Pedrena, Cantabria, 20 kilometres by road from Santander but just 5 kilometres across the bay by ferry boat. Although his father was a farmer, his was very much a golfing family: his uncle Ocejo Ramon was Spanish professional champion four times and recorded a sixth place at The Masters in 1965, whilst brothers Manuel, Vicente and Baldoramo are all professional players. Seve learned the game 'thrashing around' on his local beach, using a three iron 'borrowed' from one of his brothers. He became an expert chipping out of sand and grass – and at playing truant from school at the same time!
Turning professional in 1974 at the tender age of 16, he shook the golfing world to the core just two years later when he finished second to Johnny Miller at The Open at Royal Birkdale, after leading by two strokes going into the final round. That same year he won the European Tour Order of Merit, a feat he was to repeat on a further five occasions.
His First Major
Seve won his first Major at The Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1979, turning a two-shot deficit after the third round into a three-stroke victory, thanks to a superb final round of 70 in difficult conditions. Aged just 22, he was the youngest winner of the tournament in the 20th century. He went on to gain two more Open victories, at St Andrews in 1984 and at Lytham again in 1988. Sandwiched in between were two wins at The Masters at Augusta, Georgia, in 1980 and 1983; his 1980 Masters triumph was the first by a European player.
Match play was Seve's forte too. He won five World Match Play Championships at Wentworth and was the undoubted star of the European Ryder Cup team throughout the 1980s and '90s, his pairing with fellow Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal being especially successful. He helped Europe win the coveted trophy in 1985, '87, '89 and '95, but perhaps his proudest moment came two years later, when he captained Europe to victory at the superb Valderrama Golf Club at Sotogrande in Andalucía – the first occasion the Ryder Cup had been staged in mainland Europe.
Winning with style
Throughout his career, Seve always played the same way: adventurously, fearlessly, and with style and panache. He developed the habit of executing amazing escape acts, wayward drives being invariably rescued by his wonderful short game around the greens and flawless putting technique. Former US and Open champion Tony Jacklin described him as easily the most exciting and charismatic golfer he had ever seen. And he always managed to win – and occasionally to lose – with charm, grace and humour. He was immensely popular with his fellow professionals and an inspiration to youngsters just starting out in the game. A number of top players – Tiger Woods springs readily to mind – are widely respected for their achievements and dedication but remain distant, decidedly aloof figures; Seve, by contrast, was both admired and genuinely liked by his peers.
As veteran BBC commentator Peter Alliss so succinctly put it: "Nobody ever minded when Seve won; in fact they were always pleased, not to say delighted, for him." Certainly his legion of fans in Britain, where he played some of his most spectacular golf, always were; they regarded the effervescent Spaniard as one of their own.
Injury and retirement
From the mid-90s onwards Seve began to struggle with back and knee injuries, leading to an inevitable loss of form. Entering the new Millennium, frustrated at being unable to maintain the level of performance he expected of himself, he began to play less and less on the PGA and European tours, and increasingly missed the cut when he did turn out. In July 2007, at an emotional press conference held at Carnoustie prior to The Open championship, he announced his retirement from the game.
But his involvement with golf did not end there. He runs his own successful golf course design business, known as Trajectory, with over 30 courses up and running all over the world and many more in the pipeline. The majority are naturally in Spain, but other locations include Portugal, USA, the Middle East and one in the UK. He enjoys the challenge of creating world class courses but, as any retired sportsman will tell you, nothing can compare with playing the game you love.
Illness... and recovery
It was on October 6 2008, whilst visiting his three children in Madrid, that Seve collapsed and lost consciousness. He was taken to Madrid's La Paz Hospital where a malignant brain tumour was diagnosed. His survival was in the balance and he spent 22 days in intensive care, underwent four major operations on his brain to remove the tumour and reduce the swelling in his skull, and endured several courses of chemotherapy; he is still receiving radiotherapy treatment.
Only his inherent fitness and inner strength, together with the meticulous skill of the La Paz surgeons, saved his life, and remarkably he is now well on the road to recovery. After a few months he was able to return to his luxury home high on a hill overlooking the sea at Pedrena, where he lives alone, his 16 year marriage to Carmen having ended in divorce in 2004. It is the perfect place to recuperate and rebuild his strength, with a daily routine that includes walking/jogging/running on the beach or around the pool, swimming and weight training sessions.
And of course it wasn't too long before he was back at his driving range, hitting irons and woods with the same enthusiasm he showed as a teenager some 35 years previously. His co-ordination and swing are as efficient as ever and he is consistently striking the ball 300 yards or more down the fairway. Putting is proving somewhat more problematical, however, as he suffers from impaired vision in his left eye which makes it hard to line up putts accurately.
Nevertheless, Seve has at least one more burning ambition to fulfil, in addition to regaining full health of course, and that is to return to St Andrews in June 2010 for the 150th staging of the Open championship. He is still hoping to compete in the main tournament, but he may settle for taking part in a 'Champions Cavalcade', playing the 1st, 2nd, 17th and 18th holes alongside other previous winners of the coveted trophy. In either case, he is assured of a hero's welcome from his army of British fans, for whom the arrival of a fit and well Severiano Ballesteros will be the undoubted highlight of the tournament. There won't be a dry eye in the house!
|
 |
THE SHIRE, LONDON
The Shire, London is the first Seve Ballesteros designed course in the UK. Located at Barnet, just two minutes' drive from Junction 23 of the M25, it is set within 220 acres of Hertfordshire countryside and comprises three distinctive styles: links, parkland and American. There are six par 3 holes, six par 4s and six par 5s. The course is regarded as being of championship standard and a tough test for all levels of ability. Complementing the course is a luxury clubhouse and a wide range of leisure amenities.
The Shire is also home to the Shire Academy, which offers innovative but ultimately simple teaching methods allied to the latest technology, aimed at improving the skill levels, performance and enjoyment of any golfer. Perhaps more importantly, the Academy seeks to provide students with an insight into Seve's enthusiastic and never-say-die approach to the game.
For further information visit www.theshirelondon.com
|
|
.jpg "Living Spain Issue 46")
