Golfer Seve Ballesteros suffers ‘severe deterioration’

Seve Ballesteros announced his retirement from golf in 2007, and it was confirmed that he had a brain tumour after he collapsed at Madrid Airport in October 2008.

The five-time major winning golfer had the tumour removed that same year, and received a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Following his treatment, Ballesteros said: “I am very motivated and working hard, although I am aware that my recovery will be slow and therefore I need to be patient and have a lot of determination.

“For these reasons I am following strictly all the instructions that the doctors are giving me. Besides, the physiotherapists are doing a great job on me and I feel better every day.”

After a second course of chemotherapy at Madrid’s Le Paz Hospital in February 2009 he said on his website: “The results of the check-up were really positive, better even than the first ones.”

Two more courses followed and four months later Ballesteros made his first public appearance, saying it was “a miracle” to be alive.

“He was just an amazing individual.” Tony Jacklin

However, today his family announced on his website that he had suffered a “severe deterioration” in his neurological state.

The statement continued: “The family will inform accordingly about any change in his health condition and takes this opportunity of thanking everyone for the support that both Seve and his own family have been receiving during all this time.”

The family said they would inform his fans about further developments.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a golfer from Europe with the kind of presence and charisma he had on the golf course,” golfer Tony Jacklin told Channel 4 News.

“He was amazing. When he was in full flow there was nothing like it. He was an exceptional character and an exceptional golfer.

“He was just an amazing individual with an enormous following and influence.”

Ballesteros won the Open three times, the Masters twice and played an inspirational role in the Ryder Cup, helping Europe to lift the trophy in 1985, 1987, 1989 and 1995 before captaining them to another victory at Valderrama two years later.

After a total of 87 tournament wins, his retirement came following years of battling an arthritic back and knee problems.

He was planning a farewell appearance for British fans at last year’s Open at St Andrews – not in the main event, but in the four-hole Champions Challenge – but was not well enough to travel.

Channel 4 News Senior Programme Editor, Ben Monro-Davies, writes:
In 1984 my dad told me to watch the final few holes of the Open at St Andrews. I was reluctant, but soon the charge towards the Claret Jug by Seve had me mesmerised.
As his 10 foot putt for birdie at the 18th dropped into the hole, he punched the air again and again and again. Golfers normally didn't show their feelings. The image captured by photographers became his logo. I and thousands others wondered at this hispanic dude who seemed more rock star than golfer.
Severiano Ballesteros' true legacy, unlike most sportsmen, lies well outside the trophies he won. His impact on the game was perhaps bigger than any other before him. He turned what was an Anglo Saxon pursuit into a global game.
His emergence coincided with the decision to change the Ryder Cup from a match between Great Britain and the United States to a match between Europe and America. Although he was once not selected for the European team following a row, he quickly became obsessed with beating the Americans.
To him, this team event mattered more than his own individual successes. His enthusiasm turned an exhibition match little liked by the players to one of the biggest events in world sport. And through that, a whole new audience was drawn in.
At the last Ryder Cup, where Europe sneaked home in Wales, every player dedicated the trophy to Seve. They were right. Without him the match and the game as a whole would not be what it is now.