I have a brain tumour, golf legend Seve reveals

GOLFING legend Seve Ballesteros last night said he faced "the most difficult game of my life" after announcing he has been diagnosed with a brain tumour.

The five-times Major winner was admitted to hospital last Monday after he collapsed at Madrid airport and briefly lost consciousness.

The Spaniard left intensive care on Saturday after treatment for what the hospital described as a "partial epileptic fit".

But, in a statement to Spanish media yesterday, the 51-year-old said: "I inform you that after an exhaustive check that was realised at Hospital La Paz, a brain tumour has been detected."

He is expected to undergo a biopsy tomorrow before doctors decide how to proceed.

Ballesteros said: "Throughout my entire career, I have been one of the best at overcoming obstacles on the golf course. And now I want to be the best, facing the most difficult game of my life, using all my strength and also counting on those who have been sending me get-well messages.

"Now I've been able to tell my three children personally and their mother, now I can tell you the illness that I am suffering from. After the exhaustive tests that I have undertaken in the Hospital La Paz (in Madrid], they have detected a brain tumour.

"I have always sympathised with those people who face illnesses. Therefore, I want to remind them that with bravery, faith, serenity, confidence and a lot of mental strength, we have to face any situation no matter how difficult it is."

He asked for his family's privacy to be respected while promising to keep fans regularly informed of his condition.

"Now my wish is to ask for respect for my family and especially for my children. We will keep you informed," he continued.

"I want to thank from the bottom of my heart all those people who have shown affection and interest in my state of health, with all kinds of support. Many thanks."

It was unknown yesterday whether the tumour was benign or malignant.

The former Ryder Cup star, who won a record 50 times on the European tour, won the British Open three times and the Masters twice before retiring last year after a long history of back pain.

He helped Europe beat the US in the 1985 Ryder Cup to begin two decades of dominance. He also captained the winning Europe team on home soil in 1997 at Valderrama. British former Ryder Cup captain Tony Jacklin led tributes to the star yesterday. "At his best, Seve was the best and the man who did more for golf than anyone else in Europe," he said.

"He was our Arnold Palmer and people just love to see him play."

Scottish golfer Sam Torrance, a contemporary of Ballesteros on the European Tour and also a former European Ryder Cup captain, said:

"I have many fond memories of playing with him and against him. I was on tour before he started and I was on tour after he finished, so I was a witness to his glorious career. I hope he gets better."

Ballesteros won the US Masters in 1980 and 1983 and was the British Open champion in 1979, 1984 and 1988. He gave Europe a shining talent to rally around when the US appeared to have a stranglehold over the sport.

A sportsman with instinctive charm and natural charisma, his swashbuckling nature stemmed from his Latin temperament and his joyful approach to a sport he had taught himself on the beaches of Pedrena.

He was renowned for his ability to extricate his golf ball from the most difficult of situations, and was famously dubbed the "car park champion" after winning the 1979 Open at Royal Lytham and St Anne's with a shot from amid the vehicles.

His style married elegance with a ruthless edge. As he once said of his opponents: "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'."

TIMELINE

1957 – Severiano Ballesteros born 9 April, Pedrena, northern Spain, the son of a farmer.

1974 – Turns professional.

1976 – Wins first European Tour title and tops Order of Merit.

1979 – Wins Open at Royal Lytham. Ryder Cup debut.

1980 – First European to win Masters at Augusta.

1984 – Stops Tom Watson achieving record-equalling sixth Open title, with a closing birdie at St Andrews (below).

1985 – Helps Europe to first Ryder Cup victory since 1957.

1987 – Part of European side that wins on American soil for first time.

1988 – Marries Carmen Botin.

1990 – Becomes a father.

1991 – European number one for sixth time.

1997 – Non-playing captain as Ryder Cup successfully defended at Valderrama.

2005 – After break-up of marriage comes out of retirement at Madrid Open, but shoots 77-73.

2006 – Scores 81-81 for last place at French Open.

2007 – Announces retirement.