Golfing legend Seve Ballesteros passes away
Spanish golfer, Seve Ballesteros, has died after fighting with brain cancer for three years. The 54-year-old had been undergoing treatment ever since he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008. Yesterday, his family reported that his condition had worsened
and he had suffered a lot of brain damage. Ballesteros passed away Saturday morning in his hometown of Pedrena in Spain.
The five-time major winner went through four operations and was also undergoing chemotherapy. One of the operations was almost seven hours long. Following his diagnosis, Seve Ballesteros rarely came out in the public. His last appearance was in March 2010
when he fell off a golf cart. One of the most talented Spanish athletes, Ballesteros was embedded in the hearts and memory of his fans and colleagues.
Rafael Nadal, the current World Number One Tennis player, described Ballesteros as a ‘reference point’ for Spaniards in sports. In his playing career, the player had won 87 titles worldwide. These include the British Open wins in 1979, 1984 and 1988. The
player also became the first European to win the Augusta Masters in 1980 and reclaimed the green jacket again in 1983.
Along with so many achievements, Ballesteros also had an amazing Ryder Cup career. The player was triumphant both as a player and also as a captain. The most prominent of his participations was in 1985, when the Europeans beat the Americans for the first
time since 1957. Two years later, Ballesteros guided the Europeans to win on American soil for the first time ever. Ballesteros’ partnership with Spanish player Jose Maria Olazabal was the most successful one. The player won 11 out of the 15 matches they played
together. In 1997, Ballesteros captained the team and led them to victory over the Americans on home soil in Valderrema.
Born in the village of Pedrena on April 9th 1957, Ballesteros led a life full of accomplishments and inspired many in his lifetime. Seeing what an amazing personality he was, Ballesteros will continue to be a source of guidance for all golfers.
“During my career I was one of the best at getting around obstacles on golf courses. Now I want to be the best at confronting the most difficult match of my life with all my strength," said Ballesteros when he was diagnosed with the illness.
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