The BBC has an update on Seve's condition:

The Madrid hospital where he underwent the procedure said he was conscious and stable and recovering in intensive care, and there were no complications.

A biopsy on the tumour was scheduled for Tuesday but doctors decided to operate to remove as much of the tumour as possible before treatment.

It was first said the op took 12 hours, but a later one said it was seven.

"He is currently conscious and in a stable condition, although he cannot receive visits in the coming days until he recovers from the surgery."

The removed tumour will be analyzed and it will take several days before the results are known, and what course of treatment Ballesteros may need.

It looks like they may not have wanted to waste any time on biopsy analysis and just get out what they could of the tumor ASAP.