Golf legends: Severiano Ballesteros 1957 to 2011

On 9th May 2011 the world of golf lost one of its heroes and true gentlemen. Severiano Ballesteros, or Seve, for short, was aged just 54 when he died but he had packed more into those few years than others would do in a much longer life.

Seve was such a character and his cavalier attitude in golf carried over into his life. This helped his popularity enormously and also the long battle which followed with cancer.

Never has a man been more befitting an obituary, so I hope this will go some way toward that.

Severiano Ballesteros was born in 1957, in Pedrena, Spain, near Santander, Severianos came from humble beginnings and his father was only a green-keeper. However Seve had connections to golf, in that close family members, including brothers of Seve, were Spanish golf professionals.

Seve skills grew quickly and he soon became a hugely popular and successful professional golfer. His supreme reign was between the 1970s and 1990s. He was at the forefront of the European challenge to the American dominance of golf championships. His challenge was very successful.

Seve has been described by many as a true gentleman and "the last of his kind".

He played a stylish game of golf which managed to remain upbeat and friendly at all times. A sports commentator told a story of Seve's good natured persona. Seve was about to take a demanding swing when a small boy behind him could be heard rattling coins in his hand.

Many a golfer would have turned around and glared, but not Seve.

Seve turned round and said to the lad "Are you nervous?" When the boy replied "Yes" Seve laughed and said "So am I".

Sadly in 2007 Seve had to retire from playing golf due to a back problem. Whether this was a sign of ill health to follow I am not sure. In 2008 he collapsed at an aiport in Madrid and tests confirmed a brain tumour or brain cancer.

Seve was not one to give in to anything easily and the hardest fight of his life began. Four operations and chemotherapy followed and it seemed that he may recover.

Seve told reporters that:

"I am sure people will feel sorry or maybe cry when they see this programme. But I don't want people to feel sorry for me. I have had a good life. I've been the luckiest person in the world and am very happy. Throughout my life I have had so many great moments that I feel I have lived two or three lives more than the average person.

I have had so much fun for so many years that this thing that has happened to me is only very little compared to other people who have tougher times. They don't have the opportunity to live a life so intense and as good as I did. So thank you very much. I love you all from my heart."

Although each surgery was successful the doctors were not able to remove all of the tumour. It resurfaced and Seve's neurological health deteriorated fast.

Seve was thankful for the treatments and invested in the "Seve Ballesteros Foundation" which he created to help others suffering with cancer. The foundation also helps young golfers, who may only have limited financial support.

On 6th May the family of Severiano announced that his health had seriously deteriorated. He died within hours. Seve died in his home town of Pedrena, Northern Spain, at 2.10am on Saturday 7^th May 2011.

The funeral service is to be held on 11th May 2011 at 1pm. Cantabria are currently in a three day period of mourning for this great man. The funeral will be a simple affair, in keeping with those funerals of other residents of Pedrena.

Seve had three children. He was divorced from wife Carmen after 24 years of marriage.The family have asked that their privacy be respected. The world loved Seve but his loved ones and close friends need time to grieve. RIP.