Seve’s nephew, Ivan Ballesteros recalled today

Today, exactly around 13:30 Spanish time, 15 years ago, I was traveling with Seve to Germany to launch a range of golf clubs and accessories bearing his name alongside Irish brand MD Golf.

Unfortunately, once in Madrid, I had to take him to La Paz Hospital due to the symptoms he was experiencing. I never thought that when I informed the nurse that was attending him in the emergency room, that we needed to catch a flight, she told me that Seve had a brain tumour, and he couldn’t leave the hospital as his life was at risk. I remember that moment as if it happened a minute ago.

It’s heartwarming to see how golf fans still remember him. As evidence; last week Ryder Cup in Italy. A man who truly contributed to changing the course of this tournament to what it is today. A man who transformed European golf. A fighter, a believer. Someone who was authentic, who stood up for what he believed in even if others didn’t like what he said, without practically fearing anyone. He was brave. A man also with great sense of humour. Someone who, coming from humble beginnings, became the king of a sport that was, at that time, only accessible to very few.

The best, not because of the number of tournaments he won but because of how he won and how he influenced the game and golf fans. In those days; no equipment, no universities, no managers. As he used to say, he achieved all he did “a puro huevo” (a Spanish expression I can’t translate directly, but it’s the way he used to explain it). When he was already a super talented young golfer, he was not even allowed to play at the Real Golf de Pedreña, the only golf club in his village at that time. So he went to the beach and played at night.

A man whose last years of life taught me and millions of people what he was made of. They say you really get to know someone in the worst moments, and I did see a man who always gave it all even when the odds were against him. He left us too soon (54), but the weight of his name and legacy will endure over time in the heads and hearts of golf fans.