Seve...Europe's King.

Today was a sad day for golf. Seve Ballesteros, as we all know, passed away this morning. While many Americans and internationals admired and liked Seve, the greatest of Ryder cuppers, I thought I'd write a few words from a European perspective. I didn't play golf until I was 32, back in 1990. I watched it a lot though, but in the '70's golf for the masses just didn't happen. If your father played, maybe you did. As I didn't have one then, no chance there. But then something happened. In 1976, at Royal Birkdale, a 19 year old finished 2nd to Johnny Miller. You could see there was something about him. Instantly, the British adored him. Just 7 years earlier, we had Tony Jacklin, winning the Open. Then the next year, he won the US Open. jacklin had fight. For too long, Americans dominated and it was time to fight back. But Jacklin was alone. But in his wake, came Seve. After '76, he was paired with Gary Player in the final round of the Masters, when Player shot a 64 to win it. Seve later said, Gary showed me it could be done. The next year, Seve won the Open. Then the year after , the Masters. When this happened, European golf took notice. Seve, Faldo, Langer, Lyle and Woosnam, all 5 born 13 months apart, took off on Seve's coat tails.

  Jack Nicklaus made the great suggestion that Great Britain and Ireland merge with Europe for the Ryder Cup. Jacklin stepped up. Seve, backing him up, galvanised Europe and it has gone on ever since. Seve had this way of bringing out the best in everyone. With all those majors won by Europeans, Ryder Cup success from '79 onwards, suddenly, there was a golf boom in Britain. I remember workmates all going on about golf. We had a go. Everyone loved Faldo, Woosnam and Lyle. They were winners. Langer too...and a German at that. But we adored Seve. It was like he was one of us, missing the fairway. But that is where the comparison stopped. No one got out of trouble like Seve. Not Mickleson, and certainly not Woods. 100 yards in, Seve every time. We loved him here more than the Spanish did.

  Today I played in a medal, and in the clubhouse people were talking about Seve. we were lucky to have him in our lives. Padraig Harrington has suggested that Seve's logo become the logo of the European tour. I think that is a brilliant idea. He deserves no less.

  If you want to see what golf meant to Seve and see the passion of the man, one moment that sums up everything about him, watch the final putt on the 18th at St Andrews in 1984 when he beat Tom Watson. Not a fist pump, just sheer joy. Probably the best celebration in golf history. RIP Seve.

   PS...  at Wentworth, for the BMW on May 26, Jose Maria Olazabal will speak about Seve...do try to watch it.