Spotlight On Seve: F M DE ND Host

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 21
At a glance
Powered by AI
Seve Ballesteros was honored at the 2008 Memorial Tournament. He was a talented Spanish golfer who had success on both the European and PGA Tours, winning multiple major championships. He also made significant contributions to the Ryder Cup as both a player and captain.

Seve Ballesteros had a very successful career winning 5 major championships and over 50 titles on the European Tour. He also received awards such as the European Tour Order of Merit several times and was named European Player of the Century.

Seve Ballesteros was very passionate about the Ryder Cup and was Europe's emotional and spiritual leader as a player. He rallied his teammates and the Ryder Cup held special significance for him. He helped Europe's performance and competitiveness in the matches as both a player and captain.

F R O M T H E F O U N D E R A N D H O S T

Spotlight on Seve

I
FIRST MET SEVE BALLESTEROS IN 1976, when this enormously talented, 19-year-old Spaniard made a
name for himself at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Although Johnny Miller won the Open that year,
Seve and I tied for second. At the time, I didn’t know much about him, but from that tournament on, Seve
became a force in the game and the entire golf world soon became enamored with Seve.
His record, which includes five major championships, speaks for itself. Beyond his record, though, Seve has
earned a global reputation as a charismatic figure who brought great flare to the game. It is this rare combination that
is among the many reasons why he is this year’s Memorial Tournament Honoree.
I have always had great respect for Seve’s ability, how he played the game, how he brought excitement to our sport,
and how he achieved such success. I think John Huggan’s profile of Seve in these pages provides great insight on Seve’s
life and accomplishments. It was his creativity, his imagination, his competitiveness, and his desire to compete that made
him so popular not only in Europe but around the world. He was a great entertainer.
I think where Seve made his biggest contribution to golf was through the
Ryder Cup, both as a player and a captain. He was one of the most passionate
Ryder Cup players to compete in the matches. He was Europe’s emotional and
spiritual leader, and his teammates rallied around him. The Ryder Cup was some-
thing that was very special to Seve, and it showed.
He is a great champion and friend, and I am so pleased that he is being
honored this week. It is also a bittersweet time because Seve has been waging a
courageous battle against cancer. As this magazine was going to press, I did not
know if Seve would be up to joining us here at Muirfield Village. We hope he will
be here, so that he can enjoy this honor and we can enjoy his company. But
should he remain at home in Spain, we want Seve to know he is in our thoughts
and prayers, and all of us, including the many patrons who will surround the
stage during the Honoree Ceremony, send our most heartfelt best wishes.
As well as honoring exceptional figures in golf, the Memorial Tournament
also recognizes members of the media. This year’s recipient of “the Memorial
Golf Journalism Award” is Ron Green, who has been a well-respected sports
writer in Charlotte, N.C., for 50-plus years. Ron and his son, Ron Green, Jr.
(whose shared love for sports and journalism led him to follow in his father’s
footsteps), have covered a combined 83 Masters Tournaments.
Once again I would like to thank Morgan Stanley for its presenting sponsorship, and for giving the millions of
people who make up our global television audience the opportunity to enjoy what the thousands of faithful patrons and
volunteers of the Memorial are fortunate to enjoy in person. And, of course, I want to thank the players for their
continued support of this event. Their participation along with the above ensures that we will raise significant funds for
worthy charitable causes in Central Ohio—most importantly, Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Each year, I look forward to being “home” and sharing this week with all of you who come out and support
“the Memorial.” We are proud of the traditions we have started, and we will continue to work hard to make “the Memorial”
a great experience for all.
Thank you and have a great week.

JACK NICKLAUS
Founder and Host,
the Memorial Tournament

18 THE MEMORIAL
1.5 billion golf balls will be lost this year.
They’ll all have to be replaced.

Even in the golf industry, there are smart


investment opportunities.

morganstanley.com
Investments and services are offered through Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, members SIPC. 4/08
Morgan Stanley is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Memorial Tournament.
Watch as the 120 greatest golfers give the rest of us a lesson in how this game is played.
To Þnd the smart investments today, you need to be world wise.

MuirÞeld Village Golf Club | Dublin, Ohio | June 3 – 6


MEMORIAL HONOREE SEVE BALLESTEROS

“THE COOLEST
GOLFER EVER” Scintillating skills and charismatic chutzpah marked the iconic career
of Europe’s trailblazing star, Severiano Ballesteros
B Y J O H N H U G G A N

I
T IS LATE MARCH 1974, and Manuel Piñero has just won the Spanish National Professional
Championship at the Sant Cugat Club in Barcelona. Celebrating afterwards with compatriot and
future Ryder Cup teammate Antonio Garrido, Piñero is asked if he has seen anything of the young-
ster who finished 20th, a remarkable 16-year-old from the small fishing village of Pedreña on
Spain’s windswept northern coast. He has not. But, curiosity piqued, Piñero goes in search of the
youngster to congratulate him on a fine performance in what was his professional debut.
He doesn’t have to look long or far. Cup for Spain in 1976. “He was the first golfer in our coun-
“He was sitting quite near me behind a high row of lock- try to be known to everyone. But the Spanish people still
ers. And he was crying,” Piñero, smiling, recalls. “I asked him don’t understand how great he was. I’m not sure they ever
what was wrong, and he told me he had come to win the tour- will. It is a shame. He is much more famous in places like
OPPOSITE PAGE AND ABOVE: AUGUSTA NATIONAL/GETTY IMAGES

nament, and he had failed. He expected to win! That was the Scotland. But in my opinion he is one of the top three
first sign for me that Seve Ballesteros was special.” Spanish sportsmen of all time.
Since that far-off day many other adjectives have been “It wasn’t just the tournaments he won. It was the way he
applied to a man who, through a combination of sheer force of won and the way he played. You couldn’t take your eyes off him.”
will and unquestionable talent, became the most important Piñero speaks the truth. Even long before he became a
and historically significant European golfer to emerge since star, Seve Ballesteros had a presence all his own, and it is
World War II. because of his presence, his charisma, his ebullience and bril-
Genius. Gifted. Charismatic. Wayward. Dashing. liance on the golf course, and the proud and dignified way he
Unorthodox. Maddening. When it comes to Seve, everyone has battled cancer in recent years that Severiano Ballesteros is
has an opinion. the 2010 Memorial Tournament Honoree.
“He is one of those players we were all lucky to see,” “I played with Seve in an under-25s championship when
continues Piñero, with whom Seve would win the World he was 17,” recalls former European Tour player and now Sky

46 THE MEMORIAL
MEMORIAL HONOREE SEVE BALLESTEROS

Television commentator, Ewen Murray. “He was as a 14-year old, that Ballesteros finally drew a line Opposite: The first of
wearing a pair of brown and white shoes that under a career that, between his maiden victory at Seve Ballesteros’ Open
were not very clean. And he had only nine clubs the 1976 Dutch Open and his last, the ’95 Championship wins, at
in his bag. I honestly thought he was a caddie. Spanish Open, produced a record 50 European Royal Lytham & St.
“Three holes into our round, my initial Tour victories. Around the world he won a further Annes in 1979.
impression had changed more than a bit. For one 33 times more, including five World Match Play
thing, nine clubs was actually more than he titles at Wentworth, near London. He played in Below: Ballesteros
needed. And for another, once he got around the eight Ryder Cups for Europe, finishing on the win-
waves to the crowd as
greens, I knew I was in the company of a genius.” ning side three times. And, most impressively, he
he walks up the 18th
The same was true at the opposite end of his finished first in five major championships: three
fairway at Royal Lytham
competitive golfing life. For all that the last few Opens and two Masters.
& St. Annes in ’79 on
years of Ballesteros’ time on tour were in stark “My brother Baldomero says that my best golf-
ing years were from 14-18 years old,” Ballesteros the way to claiming his
contrast to the earlier glories—between 1976
and 1992 he was never out of the top 20 on the says frankly. “But I think that my best game lasted first major title.
European Order of Merit; between 1996 and between 1975 and 1988. Thereafter, I competed
2001 he was never inside the top 100—those with a game based on experience and determina- Below inset: Brothers
around him still recognized his greatness. tion. But the mental coolness had diminished. in arms: Ballesteros
“I only played with Seve once, near the end of When that happens, the game suffers.” breaks down in the
his career, in the Volvo Masters at Montecastillo Mere statistics do not begin to sum up the arms of his eldest
in Spain,” says former U.S. Open champion Geoff overall contribution of a man who lifted Old brother, Baldomero,
Ogilvy. “I never used to watch him hit balls on the World golf onto his perennially aching back and after winning his first
range, but whenever he went to the chipping carried it to what amounted to the Promised Open Championship.
green, I went with him. Just to watch. For me, he Land. It wasn’t so much that he was a trailblaz-
is maybe the most talented player ever. er for a new generation of truly
“My first memory of him is the chip he hit to world-class European players. He
the 18th green at Lytham in 1988 when he won his was. It wasn’t so much that he
third Open. I must have watched that shot 1,000 went to America and won against
times. It’s the best chip I’ve ever seen. And it still the very best. He did. It wasn’t
looks like it is going in every time I watch it.” even that he almost single-hand-
It was at Carnoustie, Scotland, during the edly resurrected the Ryder Cup
2007 Open Championship, racked with pain from as a living breathing golfing
a back he first injured in a friendly boxing match entity. He did that, too.
INSET: ROLLS PRESS/POPPERFOTO/GETTY IMAGES
RIGHT: BOB THOMAS/GETTY IMAGES
OPPOSITE: STEVE POWELL/ALLSPORT

THE MEMORIAL 49
MEMORIAL HONOREE SEVE BALLESTEROS

Right: Ballesteros at
the 1980 Masters
Tournament at Augusta
National Golf Club.

Below: Fuzzy Zoeller


presents Ballesteros
with his first of two
green jackets after
winning the 44th
Masters in 1980.

No, as Piñero and Ogilvy intimate, it was the


way he did all of those things. Perhaps only Arnold
“SEVE WAS MY HERO. I ALWAYS WANTED Palmer has ever played a simple ball-and-stick
TO SWING LIKE HIM, PUTT LIKE HIM, game with as much panache and verve as Seve.
CHIP LIKE HIM. HE WAS ALWAYS “Everyone was in awe of Seve,” confirms
THE PICTURE IN MY MIND WHEN Australian Mike Clayton, who played the
European Tour from 1982-96. “None of us could
I WAS PRACTICING.” do what he could do. No one had the charisma.
ERNIE ELS Everyone loved him: the fans, the television and
the sponsors.”
Indeed, watching Seve battle everything—the
course, his fellow competitors, himself—was an
experience akin to the proverbial rollercoaster
ride. By the end, whatever the result, the overall
feeling was one of exhilaration at having witnessed
and experienced a true force of nature at work.
“Seve was my hero,” says three-time major
champion Ernie Els. “I always wanted to swing like
him, putt like him, chip like him. He was always ABOVE: POPPERFOTO/GETTY IMAGES

the picture in my mind when I was practicing.


“You can talk all you want about Arnie—and
Arnie was great—but Seve was golf outside
America. He was the European Tour. He always
had the biggest gallery, no matter what country
he was in. He was Tiger before Tiger was Tiger.”
It is perhaps difficult for an American audi-
LEFT: AUGUSTA NATIONAL/GETTY IMAGES

ence to appreciate the impact Ballesteros had at


the very highest level of the game on those fans
reared on decades of European futility. Suddenly,
the rest of the world had a bona fide hero, one
who not only looked the Americans in the eye,
but who patted them on the head after kicking
their backsides in competition.

50 THE MEMORIAL
SAS® Business Analytics Software
Data Management | Analytics | Reporting | Targeted Business and Industry Solutions

What if you could increase revenue by 66%


using your data to make confident, fact-based decisions?

You can. SAS gives you The Power to Know.®

SAS Business Analytics software helps organizations across every industry


discover innovative ways to increase profits, reduce risk, predict trends,
and turn information assets into true competitive advantage.

www.sas.com/decisions
for a free research paper

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. ® indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. © 2010 SAS Institute Inc.
All rights reserved. 49569US.0510
MEMORIAL HONOREE SEVE BALLESTEROS

in the 15 years after Seve broke through—


he was always the first: First to win in
America, at the 1978 Greater Greensboro
Classic, his PGA TOUR debut. First to
win a major. First to believe that the Ryder
Cup could be won after years of American
dominance.
Just how special the disconsolate
teenager consoled by Piñero would be
did not remain a mystery to the rest of
the golfing world for long. By October of
’74, the by-then 17-year-old Ballesteros
(whose uncle, Ramon Sota, had been a
good enough player to finish sixth in the
1965 Masters) had finished fifth in the
Italian Open. One year later, he had
recorded a handful of top-10 finishes in
European Tour events—the highlight
was third-place behind Gary Player at
the Lancome Trophy in Paris—and
topped the Continental Order of Merit,
a distinction that offered with it an
exemption into the Open Championship
at Royal Birkdale the following summer.
Even now, almost 34 years later, the
performance put in by the teenaged Seve
over the famous Southport links contin-
ues to resonate with those who either saw
him in the flesh or marveled at his
instinctive play and natural charisma via
the cathode ray tube. It was, amidst an
uncharacteristically sweltering English
Ballesteros and Jack Before Seve—like Elvis or Madonna, the heat wave, an arrival upon the world’s stage that
Nicklaus together at Spaniard’s first name is enough identification— has since been matched only by that of Tiger
the Champions Dinner claimed the first of what would be five major titles Woods for sheer, unrestricted impact.
during the 1981 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 1979, and then He didn’t win, of course, that honor going to
Masters Tournament. quickly added a second at Augusta National Golf Johnny Miller by a comfortable margin. But even
Club less than a year later, the European cupboard now it is Seve who captures the mind’s eye. With
had been all but bare. Tony Jacklin apart, no one all hope of victory long gone amidst a final round
from the eastern end of the Atlantic had won the spent, it seemed, mostly searching for his ball, he
U.S. Open in more than half a century. The same struck an audacious chip-and-run through the
was true of the PGA Championship. And none narrow gap separating two greenside bunkers to

IT WAS, AMIDST AN UNCHARACTERISTICALLY


SWELTERING ENGLISH HEAT WAVE, AN ARRIVAL
UPON THE WORLD’S STAGE THAT HAS SINCE BEEN
MATCHED ONLY BY THAT OF TIGER WOODS
FOR SHEER, UNRESTRICTED IMPACT.
AUGUSTA NATIONAL/GETTY IMAGES

had ever won the Masters. At the pinnacle of the set up one last birdie and tie Jack Nicklaus for
sport, golf was America’s game. second place. Far away at home in Dallas, no less
But Seve changed all that. While others came a shot maker than Lee Trevino leapt whooping
along to emulate his feats—Sandy Lyle, Nick from his chair in instinctive tribute.
Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam and José “It was Seve’s driver that killed him,” Miller
María Olazábal would all win Grand Slam events said in the aftermath of that championship. “I

52 THE MEMORIAL
The Memorial Tournament is just one of the
remarkable things happening in Dublin.

Dublin in
top five
rankings in Dublin

Economic
50
key categories
as a place
to live -
Development -
1st
1st

These are the results of the recent 2009 independent National Citizen Survey. Dublin
residents rated their city first as a place to live and second as a place to work among more
than 300 cities participating in the survey. Dublin is rated above the national benchmark in all 30
community characteristics and in all 36 government-provided services in the survey.
Dublin as a place to live - 1st Overall image and reputation
Affordability of quality health care- 1st of Dublin – 1st
Overall appearance of Dublin – 1st Courts -1st
Street repair and maintenance -1st Storm Drainage -1st
Economic development – 1st Traffic light timing -1st
Emergency preparedness – 1st Code enforcement -1st
Services provided by the City of Dublin -1st Sidewalk maintenance -1st
Availability of preventive health care -1st Quality of new development -1st

For more information, visit www.dublin.oh.us/ncs


MEMORIAL HONORE E SEV E BA LLESTE ROS

really think that if he could have contained him- The 3-wood Seve struck from a distant fairway
self and used a 1-iron he might have won. But bunker to the edge of the final green at PGA
the best thing for Seve today was that he finished National during the 1983 Ryder Cup remains the
second. His day will come.” greatest shot Jack Nicklaus, the game’s greatest
And it did, all too quickly. Three tourna- ever player, ever saw. As accolades go, that is
ments later, Ballesteros—the youngest of four hard to beat.
Below: At the 1983 brothers, all golf professionals—became the Perhaps Seve’s most famous shot, however,
Masters, Ballesteros Dutch Open champion. is one that is still talked of in hushed tones
watches his chip shot. It is not, however, for mere victories that around the European Tour. It came at Crans-
Ballesteros is remembered with unmatched sur-Sierre in Switzerland during the 1993
affection by those he played with and against European Masters.
Below right: Ballesteros over the course of a 33-year professional career. “Seve was four shots behind with six holes
wearing the green Everyone, it seems, has a Seve story that begins to play,” recalls Billy Foster, his caddie that
jacket after capturing with, “you won’t believe what he did,” or “it was week. “Then, after making five birdies in a row
the 1983 Masters, his amazing,” or “it was a shot I could never hit, or from the 13th, he smashed his tee shot miles to
second win at Augusta even imagine hitting.” the right at the last. When we found his ball, it
in four starts. Even the Golden Bear has been impressed. was about 6 feet from an 8-foot-high wall that
bordered a swimming pool. He was deep in the
trees and had only half a backswing because of
a branch. And there were more trees all over
the top of the wall.
“So he gets down on his hands and knees
and sees a gap. It was maybe 2 square feet. ‘Billy,’
he said, ‘I have this shot, eh?’
“I, of course, was having none of it. ‘Seve,’ I
said, ‘you’re tied for the lead. Chip out sideways
and try to make a par from there.’
“I was wasting my breath. ‘No, no, Billy, I
have this shot,’ he said, before waving me away.
So I left him. As I walked away I told him: ‘I
know you’re Seve Ballesteros, but you’re not
bloody David Copperfield.’
“The thing is, he didn’t even use his sand
wedge, his most lofted club. (Seve never used a
lob wedge.) He pulled out his pitching wedge
and, sure enough, hit it through the gap, over the
wall, over some 8-foot pine trees near the green

AUGUSTA NATIONAL/GETTY IMAGES

54 THE MEMORIAL
Celebrating over 70 years of saving people money
on car insurance, and a 97% customer satisfaction rate.
He may look serious, but he’s smiling inside.

!"#!$%$ &' () #*&+!,$&* , -, . ' $/01


MEMORIAL HONOREE SEVE BALLESTEROS

and onto the fringe of the green. It was easily the


best shot I’ve ever seen in my life. I got down on
my hands and knees and bowed to him as he
walked up the fairway. And, of course, he
chipped in for a birdie.”
For Ballesteros, such feats were common-
place, mere extensions of an artistic temperament
ideally suited to the creation rather than the
mere striking of shots. But those shots still had to
be learned, and the young Seve’s classroom was
the beach at Pedreña. The product of a modest
family background—his father was a sometime
farmer, sometime fisherman whose home, signifi-
cantly, backed onto the Club de Golf de
Pedreña—it was on the vast sands that the young
Seve learned the game. Armed only with a rusty
old 3-iron, the pre-teen manufactured all kinds of
shots: high and low, slice and hook and every-
thing in between.
“Most of the people in the village worked at
the golf club,” he remembers. “The children
were all caddies, making a few pesetas to help
the family. My brothers were all caddies, then
professionals, so I was surrounded
by a golfing atmosphere. Straight-
away the game got into me. I would
practice on the beach, because I
wasn’t allowed on the golf course.”
Above: Ballesteros with
It was, however, a labor of love,
one the youngster would spend hour his second Claret Jug
upon hour mastering, often when his after winning the 1984
parents thought he was in school. By Open Championship at
the time he was 15, Ballesteros had St. Andrews, Scotland.
the equivalent of a graduate degree
in shot making. Left: Ballesteros holes
“Never when you are a child do a 10-foot putt to cap
you think you are especially gifted for his victory at the Old
something,” he says. “What you do
Course at St. Andrews.
notice is passion because you feel it.
Passion makes you devote yourself to
what you really like. Between golf and
me there was chemistry; there was
mutual love. And when you devote
yourself, success comes. The distance
between talent and success is called
work. If you do not work hard, success
waters down.”
Indeed, it can be argued that Seve
ABOVE: GETTY IMAGES

worked too hard. Many blame his relent-


less practice for aggravating the back
injury that would eventually lead to his
premature retirement.
“It’s a pity that so few of the kids on
LEFT: DAVID CANNON /ALLSPORT

tour have any idea how great Seve was,”


Els says. “I find that enormously sad. It
is their loss. There is nobody like him
out there now. No one plays golf like he
did.”

56 THE MEMORIAL
MEMORIAL HONOREE SEVE BALLESTEROS

was, the shot from the fairway was very difficult. Left: Ballesteros’ final
But from where Seve was, the approach was putt clinched the
easy. He knew exactly what he was doing.” European Team’s
Still, for all that Ballesteros eventually victory over Team USA
achieved, it can perhaps be summed up best by in the 1987 Ryder Cup
the passion he brought to the Ryder Cup. His held at Muirfield Village
partnership with compatriot Olazábal alone is Golf Club.
the stuff of legend. In 15 matches together, the
two amigos combined for 12 points, losing only
Below: Bernhard
twice. But it is Seve’s singles match with Tom
Langer, Sandy Lyle and
Lehman at Oak Hill in 1995 that lingers most
in the memory. Ballesteros with the
Armed with a long game he himself Ryder Cup trophy the
described as “hopeless,” Ballesteros demon- Europeans won in
strated every facet of his peerless short game in 1985 at The Belfry,
extending the contest—what would end up to ending the Americans’
be his last as a Ryder Cup player—as far as the winning streak dating
16th green. Time and again he turned three back to 1971.
shots into two and secured the unlikeliest of
halves and, through it all, never lost his sense
of humor.
Walking up the 10th fairway that day, Seve
was approached by European skipper Bernard
Gallacher. “Seve,” asked the Scot, “why are you

STILL, FOR ALL THAT BALLESTEROS


EVENTUALLY ACHIEVED,
Still, the memories will forever remain. No IT CAN PERHAPS BE SUMMED UP
one who was present that day will ever forget BEST BY THE PASSION HE BROUGHT
the spontaneous fist-pumping celebration that
followed the 10-foot putt that won the 1984 TO THE RYDER CUP.
Open Championship at St. Andrews. “That
was my most exciting shot,” says Seve.
“Because I won at the birthplace of
golf.”
He also won, more than once if
you believe the legend, despite a driv-
er that was forever reputed to be less
than accurate. Exhibit ‘A’ in that
respect has always been the famous
occasion, en route to winning the
1979 Open at Royal Lytham, when
Ballesteros played his second shot to
the 70th green from a temporary car
park far to the right of the fairway.
But those who know the man best
dismiss any charge of waywardness
from the tee.
“It is rubbish to say that Seve was
a wild driver,” insists Piñero. “He was
one of the straightest drivers I ever
BOB THOMAS/GETTY IMAGES

saw. When he won at Lytham in ’79,


he hit his tee shot at the 16th way to
the right on purpose. I was there.
With the wind blowing the way it

58 THE MEMORIAL
MEMORIAL HONOREE SEVE BALLESTEROS

jumped up, caught the edge of his chair with


his heels and fell backwards. He was just so
“HE IS STILL THE COOLEST GOLFER enthusiastic. And it was that passion that set
him apart. He cared.”
EVER. ASK ANYONE FROM HIS And now, of course, the golfing world must
GENERATION, AND HE’S STILL THE BEST.” care for him. Since suffering a seizure at the
G E O F F O G I LV Y Madrid airport in October 2008, Seve has been
battling the effects of a brain tumor that has, so
far, required him to undergo four operations
and various bouts of chemotherapy. Friends and
smiling when you are one down?” family say he has fought his condition with a
“Because Bernard,” came the instant reply, “I single-minded determination and raw courage
should be nine down!” rarely seen in someone so debilitated. Given
“That was the toughest guy I’ve ever played,” that, it will come as no surprise to see Seve back
said a breathless Lehman in tribute after com- at St. Andrews for the Open Champions four-
pleting his 3-and-2 victory. “He was absolutely hole challenge this July. For the Scots, perhaps
unbelievable. I salute him.” his biggest fans, his presence will surely provoke
It was ever thus for Ballesteros, of course. scenes of wild excitement and nostalgia. There
Every time out, and again in his winning role as is much to remember.
non-playing Ryder Cup captain at Valderrama Since his condition became known, many
in 1997, he wanted to show the world how tributes have been paid to Seve. But perhaps
good Europe could be at golf, a point he was the most profound—and accurate—comes
determined to make to any naysayers from from Ogilvy.
across the pond. “He is still the coolest golfer ever,” says the
“I remember being in the team room at The 32-year-old Australian. “Ask anyone from his
Belfry during the 1985 matches,” says Ken generation, and he’s still the best. Anyone and
Brown, who played against America in five everyone who played in Europe between 1975
Ryder Cups. “Seve was there, watching a game and 1995 still thinks Seve is the best. They
finish on television. Craig Stadler had a putt to don’t care about Tiger or anyone else. They
win the match from maybe 2 feet, which was just won’t even discuss it. Seve is the best.”
about the distance from Seve’s face to the It’s unanimous then. MT
screen. If he could have climbed into the set, I
think he would have. John Huggan is the European correspondent for Golf
“Anyway, when Craig missed his putt, Seve World … and a long-time and unabashed Seve fan.

Right: Ballesteros
meets with the media
in Madrid, Spain, in
June of last year. It
was the first time he
appeared in public
since undergoing
surgery for a brain
tumor after it was
discovered in
October 2008.
AP PHOTO/VICTOR R. CAIVANO

60 THE MEMORIAL
Is Your Hearing “Up To Par?”
Experience Did you “bogey” that last conversation with an
occasional “What?…Pardon Me?…and Huh?”

the Flavor of Make a “hole-in-one!” Hear AND understand


speech clearly and easily!

Tuscany
without leaving the country.
Call The Hearing Pros At Luebbe!
Through the years your ears may
have gone to concerts (with the
music blasting), military service,
noisy construction, auto races and
more. It’s time for a tune-up! Have
Dr. Mary Lou Luebbe
and staff “drive”
you to hearing
excellence with
our advanced
technology!

FREE Hearing Screening With Ad!


ENJOY LUNCH, DINNER & WEEKEND BRUNCH North High Centre
EASTON TOWN CENTER POLARIS FASHION PLACE (Across from Graceland Shopping Cntr)
1 PRIVATE ROOM 4 PRIVATE ROOMS 5074 N. High St.
Columbus • 614-431-1010
(614) 416-4745 (614) 410-0310 ™
Circleville • 740-474-8475
B RIO I TALIAN . COM
www.hearohio.com Canal Winchester • 800-338-5643
MEMORIAL HONOREE SEVE BALLESTEROS

SEVE BALLESTEROS’ CAREER RECORD


MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORIES German Open
Lancome Trophy
1979 Open Championship 1989 Cepsa Madrid Open
1980 Masters Tournament Epson Grand Prix of Europe Match Play
1983 Masters Tournament Championship
1984 Open Championship Ebel European Masters Swiss Open
1988 Open Championship 1990 Open de Baleares
1991 Volvo PGA Championship
PGA EUROPEAN TOUR VICTORIES Dunhill British Masters
1992 Dubal Desert Classic
1976 Dutch Open Turespana Open de Baleares
1977 French Open 1994 Benson & Hedges International Open
Uniroyal International Championship Mercedes German Masters
Swiss Open 1995 Peugeot Spanish Open
1978 Martini International
Braun German Open PGA TOUR VICTORIES
Scandinavian Enterprise Open
Swiss Open 1978 Greater Greensboro Open
1979 English Golf Classic 1983 Westchester Classic
1980 Madrid Open 1985 USF&G Classic
Martini International 1988 Westchester Classic
Dutch Open
1981 Scandinavian Enterprise Open OTHER VICTORIES
Benson & Hedges Spanish Open
1982 Cepsa Madrid Open 1974 Campeonato Nacional Para Sub-25
French Open Open de Vizcaya
1983 Sun Alliance PGA Championship 1975 Campeonato Nacional Para Sub-25
Carroll’s Irish Open 1976 Lancome Trophy
Lancome Trophy Memorial Donald Swaelens
1985 Carroll’s Irish Open Campeonato de Cataluna
Peugeot French Open Campeonato de Tenerife
Sanyo Open World Cup (with Manuel Piñero)
Benson & Hedges Spanish Open 1977 Japanese Open
1986 Dunhill British Masters Dunlop Phoenix Open
Carroll’s Irish Open Otago Classic
Johnnie Walker Monte Carlo Open Braun International
Peugeot French Open World Cup (with Antonio Garrido)
KLM Dutch Open 1978 Kenya Open
Lancome Trophy Japanese Open
1987 Suze Open Campeonato Nacional Para Sub-25
1988 Mallorca Open De Baleares 1979 Open el Prat
Scandinavian Enterprise Open 1981 Australian PGA Championship

62 THE MEMORIAL
OTHER VICTORIES (continued)

Dunlop Phoenix
Suntory World Match Play Championship
1982 Suntory World Match Play Championship
Masters de San Remo
1983 Million Dollar Challenge
1984 Million Dollar Challenge
Suntory World Match Play Championship
1985 Suntory World Match Play Championship
Campeonato de España-Codorniu
1987 APG Larios
Campeonato de España Para Profesionales
1988 VISA Taiheiyo Masters
APG Larios
1991 Chunichi Crowns Open
Toyota World Match Play Championship
1992 Copa Quinto Lentenario per Equipos
1995 Tournoi Perrier de Paris (with José María
Olazábal)

OTHER CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Harry Vardon Trophy (formerly the European


Tour Order of Merit) 1976, ’77, ’78, ’86, ’88, ’91
• Johnnie Walker Golfer of the Year 1986, ’88, ’91
• European Ryder Cup Team 1979, ’83, ’85, ’87,
’89, ’91, ’93, ’95
• European Ryder Cup captain 1997
• World Golf Hall of Fame 1999
BACKGROUND PHOTO: MICHAEL O’BRYON

• European Player of the Century in 2000


• First European Tour player to earn £1 million,
£2 million and £3 million
• Seve Trophy, biennial match pitting
Continental Europe against Great Britain and
Ireland, named in his honor

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy