Seve Ballesteros Biography, Family, Wife, Wealth, Death, Movie and Quotes

Seve Ballesteros Biography

Seve Ballesteros was a Spanish professional golfer born on 9 April 1957 – 7 May 2011 in Pedreña, Cantabria, Spain as Severiano “Seve” Ballesteros Sota. Ballesteros was a World No. 1 who was one of the sport’s leading figures from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s.

Ballesteros was a member of a gifted golfing family, he won more than 90 international tournaments in his career, including five major championships between 1979 and 1988: The Open Championship three times, and the Masters Tournament twice.

He gained fame in the golfing world in 1976 at the age of 19 when he finished second at The Open. He played a leading role in the re-emergence of European golf, helping the European Ryder Cup team to five wins both as a player and captain. He won the World Match Play Championship a record-tying five times. He is generally regarded as the greatest Continental European golfer of all time. Ballesteros won a record 50 European Tour titles.

He won at least one European Tour title for 17 consecutive years between 1976 and 1992. His final victory was at the 1995 Peugeot Spanish Open. Largely because of back-related injuries, Ballesteros struggled with form during the late 1990s. Despite this, Ballesteros continued to be involved in golf, creating the Seve Trophy and running a golf course design business. Ballesteros eventually retired from competitive golf in 2007 because of continued poor form.

Seve Ballesteros

In 2009, Ballesteros was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for the second time at the BBC Sports Personality Awards. He was presented with the award at his home in Spain by his compatriot and former Ryder Cup teammate José María Olazábal.

Seve Ballesteros Family

He is the son to Baldomero Ballesteros Presmanes (1919–1987) and Carmen Sota Ocejo (1919–2002).  He had five siblings, Ballesteros was the youngest of five sons. He was married to Carmen had three children.

Seve Ballesteros Wife

Ballesteros was married to Carmen Botín O’Shea, daughter of Emilio Botín, from 1988 until their divorce in 2004, in the municipality of Marina de Cudeyo in Cantabria. The marriage was said to have run into trouble when Ballesteros could not accept the fact his career was on the wane.

Seve Ballesteros Son | Children

Ballesteros and his wife Carmen had three children, Javier, Miguel and Carmen.

Seve Ballesteros Net Worth, Wealth

Ballesteros had a net worth of $4 million. He acquired his wealth through playing golf and was a World #1 golfer.

Seve Ballesteros Swing

Seve Ballesteros Movie | Film

Seve: The Movie. The biographical docudrama tells the story of championship Spanish golfer Seve Ballesteros, from childhood through his brilliant, quirky golf career.

Severiano “Seve” Ballesteros Sota was a Spanish professional golfer, a World No. 1 who was one of the sport’s leading figures from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s.

Born: 9 April 1957, Pedreña, Spain
Died: 7 May 2011, Pedreña, Spain
Spouse: Carmen Botín O’Shea (m. 1988–2004)
World Golf Hall of Fame: 1999 (member page)
Children: Javier Ballesteros, Carmen Ballesteros, Miguel Ballesteros

Seve Ballesteros Quotes

1. It is very sad. I was treated with disrespect. It was hard to sleep, and I cried because the players’ committee judged me without regard for the big picture and my contributions to the European tour.
2. I’d like to see the fairways more narrow. Then everyone would have to play from the rough, not just me.
3. He was amazing to work with though, a genius. I’ve never seen anyone with such skill, especially with wedges. He had shots no one else had. He had control over the ball like no-one else. The new balls killed off his edge though.
4. I am really very happy with the final score today. It has been a great two days of competition and the European Team played fantastic. The Asian team also showed a tremendous game. On this occasion we had a little more luck, but at the end of the day golf is the real champion.
5. The problem was the first three holes. I didn’t feel comfortable and was a bit tense. That made the rest of the day difficult, but I played well on the back nine.
6. I look into their eyes, shake their hand, pat their back, and wish them luck, but I am thinking, ‘I am going to bury you.
7. My intention is to compete until I’m 54. So if I join the Champions Tour, it will only be for four years – no more than that. I’m in the golf course design business. This is my future. I’d rather go to a place where there is nothing and design a golf course. This will be a good legacy for me to leave.
8. Yeah, but I’ll be working as a marshal. I’ll be helping your team find all the balls they drive into the rough.

Seve Ballesteros Death

Ballesteros died of brain cancer on 7 May 2011, aged 54.

At Madrid-Barajas Airport on 6 October 2008, Ballesteros lost consciousness and was admitted to hospital. Six days later, he confirmed that he had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. On 15 October, Spanish news agency EFE reported that he had undergone a 12-hour operation to resect the tumour, the first of four operations he would have. A hospital spokeswoman stated that surgeons had removed a sizable part of the tumour.

On 23 October, it was confirmed publicly that the tumour was classified as a cancerous oligoastrocytoma, and after a rapid deterioration of his health, further surgery took place on 24 October to stabilize him and try to remove the remainder of the tumour. On 24 October, it was confirmed that the tumour had been removed after a 6½-hour operation. On 3 November, it was confirmed by the hospital that he was starting his rehabilitation in the intensive care unit, and was breathing steadily. On 18 November, he was moved out of the intensive care unit and changed wards at Madrid’s La Paz Hospital to continue his rehabilitation.

Ballesteros was discharged from hospital on 9 December 2008. He then returned home to northern Spain and underwent chemotherapy treatment as an outpatient. In January 2009 a message on his website said he had responded well to one course of chemotherapy.

“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.”

Ballesteros completed a second course of chemotherapy at Madrid’s La Paz Hospital in February 2009. Speaking through his website he said, “The results of the check-up were really positive, better even than the first ones.” He finished a third round of treatment in March 2009, and completed his fourth and final course of chemotherapy a month later.

In June, Ballesteros made his first public appearance after treatment for the brain tumour. He said it was a “miracle” to be alive and he thanked everyone who had been involved in his care and welfare.

At his first public appearance, Ballesteros announced the launch of the “Seve Ballesteros Foundation”. This foundation was set up to help those with cancer fight it. The foundation aims to research cancer, especially brain tumours, but it will also help financially challenged young golfers, so they might be as successful as he.

On 6 May 2011, Ballesteros’ family released a statement announcing that his neurological condition had “suffered a severe deterioration”. He died within hours of the announcement in the early hours of 7 May 2011; his older brother Baldomero confirmed the precise time of death at 2:10 am CEST.

Seve Ballesteros Majors

Wins (5)

Results timeline

CUT = missed the half-way cut
DQ = disqualified
“T” = tied

Summary

• Most consecutive cuts made – 10 (1984 U.S. Open – 1986 Open Championship)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 4 (1984 Open Championship – 1985 U.S. Open)