After a long, drawn-out battle, golfing champion Seve Ballesteros finally succumbed to complications of a cancerous brain tumor which was diagnosed in 2008. His family had sent out an update about his deteriorating condition a few days earlier. By early Saturday a statement on the golfer’s website announced his peaceful demise at 2:10 in the morning surrounded by family in his home in Pedrena, a small town in Northern Spain.
Ballesteros was a two-time Masters champion and won the British Open three times. Credited for reinvigorating European golf and bringing glory to the Ryder Cup team, Ballesteros was known for his innovative shots and for bravely daring to play in the world’s most difficult courses. News of his death sent fellow athletes and sports figures paying tribute to Ballesteros, through social networking sites like Twitter and their own websites. Even George O’ Grady, chief executive of the European tour, said that Ballesteros was the inspiration behind the European tour.
“This is such a very sad day for all who love golf,” he said on the ET website, adding, “Seve’s unique legacy must be the inspiration he has given to so many to watch, support, and play golf, and finally to fight a cruel illness with equal flair, passion, and fierce determination. We have all been so blessed to live in his era. He was the inspiration behind the European Tour.”
World number 1 Lee Westwood posted his tribute on Twitter: “It’s a sad day. Lost an inspiration, genius, roll model, hero and friend. Seve made European golf what it is today. RIP Seve.”
Ballesteros’ cancer was discovered after he fainted in a Madrid airport in 2008. Subsequent operations to remove the tumor and reduce the swelling around the brain, as well as chemotherapy after the surgeries, left the athlete pale and thin, and he rarely was seen in public seen then. He did, however, manage to make few appearances for his Seve Ballesteros Foundation to fight cancer. Ballesteros retired in 2007 due to health issues including a sore back and failing eyesight, although he continued to be visible in the golfing community by being active in golf course design.