View source for Seve Ballesteros

{{Short description|Spanish professional golfer (1957–2011)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|Ballesteros|Sota|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox golfer
| name              = Seve Ballesteros
| image             = Seve Ballesteros 2006-07-19 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize         = 
| caption           = Ballesteros in 2006
| fullname          = {{nowrap|Severiano Ballesteros Sota}}
| nickname          = 
| birth_date        = {{Birth date|1957|4|9|df=y}}
| birth_place       = [[Pedreña]], Cantabria, Spain
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|2011|5|7|1957|4|9|df=y}}
| death_place       = Pedreña, Cantabria, Spain
| height            = 1.83 m
| weight            = 
| nationality       = {{Flagu|Spain}}
| residence         = 
| spouse            = {{marriage|Carmen Botín O'Shea|1988|2004|reason=div}}
| children          = 3
| yearpro           = 1974
| extour            = {{ubl|[[PGA Tour]]|[[European Tour]]}}
| prowins           = 90
| pgawins           = 9
| eurowins          = 50 ([[List of golfers with most European Tour wins|1st all time]])
| japwins           = 6
| auswins           = 2
| otherwins         = 28
| majorwins         = [[#Major championships|5]]
| masters           = '''Won''': [[1980 Masters Tournament|1980]], [[1983 Masters Tournament|1983]]
| usopen            = 3rd: [[1987 U.S. Open (golf)|1987]]
| open              = '''Won''': [[1979 Open Championship|1979]], [[1984 Open Championship|1984]], [[1988 Open Championship|1988]]
| pga               = 5th: [[1984 PGA Championship|1984]]
| wghofid           = seve-ballesteros
| wghofyear         = 1999
| award1            = [[Harry Vardon Trophy#Winners|European Tour {{nowrap|Order of Merit}} winner]]
| year1             = [[1976 European Tour|1976]], [[1977 European Tour|1977]], [[1978 European Tour|1978]], [[1986 European Tour|1986]], [[1988 European Tour|1988]], [[1991 European Tour|1991]]
| award2            = [[European Tour Golfer of the Year|European Tour {{nowrap|Golfer of the Year}}]]
| year2             = [[1986 European Tour|1986]], [[1988 European Tour|1988]], [[1991 European Tour|1991]]
| awardssection     = <!-- location of awards page or section -->
}}
'''Severiano Ballesteros Sota''' ({{IPA|es|seβeˈɾjano βaʎesˈteɾos}}; 9 April 1957&nbsp;– 7 May 2011) was a Spanish professional golfer, a [[List of World Number One male golfers|World No. 1]] who was one of the sport's leading figures from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s. A member of a gifted golfing family, he won 90 international tournaments in his career, including five [[Men's major golf championships|major championships]] between 1979 and 1988; [[The Open Championship]] three times and the [[Masters Tournament]] twice. He gained attention in the golfing world in 1976, when at the age of 19, 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.

Ballesteros won a record 50 [[European Tour]] titles.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thememorialtournament.com/the-memorial/honorees/2010/ |title=Past Honorees – 2010: Severiano Ballesteros |date=2 June 2019 |publisher=The Memorial Tournament |access-date=14 November 2013 |archive-date=17 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117163404/http://thememorialtournament.com/the-memorial/honorees/2010/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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 his form during the late 1990s. Despite this, he continued to be involved in golf, creating the [[Seve Trophy]] and running a golf course design business. In 2000, ''[[Golf Digest]]'' magazine ranked Ballesteros as the greatest [[Continental Europe]]an golfer of all time.

In the 2000s, Ballesteros played sparingly due to continuing back problems and in 2007 he eventually retired from competitive professional golf. In 2008 he was diagnosed with [[oligoastrocytoma|a malignant brain tumour]]. Ballesteros was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for the second time at the [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year|BBC Sports Personality Awards]] in 2009. He was presented with the award at his home in Spain by his compatriot and former Ryder Cup teammate [[José María Olazábal]].

Ballesteros died of brain cancer in 2011, aged 54.

==Early life==
Severiano Ballesteros Sota was born in the village of [[Pedreña]], [[Cantabria]], Spain, on 9 April 1957, the youngest of five sons<ref name="Tel obit" /> of Baldomero Ballesteros Presmanes (1919–1987), who was a farm labourer, and Carmen Sota Ocejo (1919–2002).<ref>{{cite book |last=Mackintosh |first=David |editor-first=David |editor-last=Huggan |title=Golf's Greatest Eighteen |publisher=McGraw-Hill |date=26 March 2003 |page=[https://archive.org/details/golfsgreatesteig0000unse/page/108 108] |isbn=978-0-07-141366-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/golfsgreatesteig0000unse/page/108 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/8500141/Peter-Alliss-Seve-Ballesteros-was-the-genius-who-simply-loved-golf.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/8500141/Peter-Alliss-Seve-Ballesteros-was-the-genius-who-simply-loved-golf.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Peter Alliss: Seve Ballesteros was the genius who simply loved golf |newspaper=The Telegraph |last=Alliss |first=Peter |date=7 May 2011 |access-date=7 August 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> One died in childhood, while all the others became professional golfers.<ref name="Tel obit">{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/8499894/Seve-Ballesteros.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/8499894/Seve-Ballesteros.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Seve Ballesteros Obituary |date=8 May 2011 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=16 May 2019 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> He learned the game while playing on the beaches near his home, during the hours he was supposed to be in school, mainly using a [[Iron (golf)|3-iron]] given to him by his older brother [[Manuel Ballesteros|Manuel]] when he was eight years old.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 May 2011 |title=Muere Seve Ballesteros, uno de los más grandes golfistas de todos los tiempos |url=https://www.elheraldo.co/deportes/muere-seve-ballesteros-uno-de-los-mas-grandes-golfistas-de-todos-los-tiempos-20195 |access-date=11 June 2022 |website=El Heraldo |language=es |archive-date=11 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611223542/https://www.elheraldo.co/deportes/muere-seve-ballesteros-uno-de-los-mas-grandes-golfistas-de-todos-los-tiempos-20195 |url-status=live }}</ref> His maternal uncle [[Ramón Sota]] was Spanish professional champion four times and finished sixth in the [[Masters Tournament]] in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.golflegends.org/seve-ballesteros.php |publisher=Golflegends.org |title=Seve Ballesteros Golf Legends |access-date=7 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214235730/http://www.golflegends.org/seve-ballesteros.php |archive-date=14 February 2008 }}</ref> Ballesteros's older brother Manuel finished in the top 100 on the [[European Tour]] [[Harry Vardon Trophy#Winners|Order of Merit]] every year from 1972 to 1983, and later became Ballesteros's manager. His brothers Vicente and Baldomero, and nephews Raúl and Ivan are also professional golfers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seveballesteros.com/seve_biografia.php?lang=2 |title=Severiano Ballesteros |publisher=Severiano Ballesteros |access-date=10 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509235826/http://www.seveballesteros.com/seve_biografia.php?lang=2 |archive-date=9 May 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://golfinggreats.info/severiano-ballesteros.php |title=Severiano Ballesteros |publisher=Golfing Greats |access-date=7 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303013612/http://golfinggreats.info/severiano-ballesteros.php |archive-date=3 March 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 April 2006 |title=Ballesteros graces San Roque leaderboard – but it's not Seve |url=https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/news/articles/detail/ballesteros-graces-san-roque-leaderboard-but-it-s-not-seve/ |access-date=11 June 2022 |publisher=PGA European Tour |agency=Reuters |archive-date=11 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611223724/https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/news/articles/detail/ballesteros-graces-san-roque-leaderboard-but-it-s-not-seve/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Professional career ==
Ballesteros turned professional in March 1974 at the age of 16.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2011/may/07/seve-ballesteros-life-career-pictures |title=Seve Ballesteros's life and career in pictures |date=7 May 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228004245/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2011/may/07/seve-ballesteros-life-career-pictures |url-status=live }}</ref> He burst onto the international scene with a second-place finish in [[1976 Open Championship]] at [[Royal Birkdale Golf Club]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theopen.com/en/History/OpenChampions.aspx#player=Seve+BALLESTEROS |title=1979 Seve Balledteros |publisher=The Open |access-date=26 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016164928/http://www.theopen.com/en/History/OpenChampions.aspx |archive-date=16 October 2013 }}</ref> He led by two shots after the third round, but a final round 74 saw him tie for second with [[Jack Nicklaus]], six shots behind the winner [[Johnny Miller]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opengolf.com/history/past_results.sps?tourn=1976014 |title=Results for 1976, Royal Birkdale |publisher=OpenGolf.com |access-date=13 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927193203/http://www.opengolf.com/history/past_results.sps?tourn=1976014 |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opengolf.com/history/past_opens.sps?PartNo=105 |publisher=OpenGolf.com |title=Miller and Ballesteros battle for the Open title |access-date=6 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531174902/http://www.opengolf.com/history/past_opens.sps?PartNo=105 |archive-date=31 May 2008 }}</ref> He went on to win the European Tour Order of Merit (money title) that year, a title that he would win the next two years, and six times total, a record at the time (since surpassed by [[Colin Montgomerie]]).<ref name="Royal">{{cite web|url=http://www.theroyaltrophy.com/site_2006/EUROPE/seve.html |title=European Team Captain – Seve Ballesteros |publisher=The Royal Trophy |access-date=13 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402083920/http://www.theroyaltrophy.com/site_2006/EUROPE/seve.html |archive-date=2 April 2009 }}</ref> Ballesteros won his first Open Championship in 1979 with a closing 70, a round in which he famously hit his tee shot into a car park on the 16th hole yet still made [[birdie (golf)|birdie]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1852421-2,00.html |title=Adios, Amigos! Seve Ballesteros wins 1979 British Open |last=Jenkins |first=Dan |author-link=Dan Jenkins |date=23 July 1979 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=7 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512041814/http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0%2C28136%2C1852421-2%2C00.html |archive-date=12 May 2011 }}</ref>

Ballesteros went on to win five [[men's major golf championships|major championships]]: the [[Masters Tournament]] in 1980 and 1983, and [[The Open Championship]] in 1979, 1984 and 1988.<ref name="Royal"/> His 1980 Masters win was the first by a European player, and at the time he was the youngest winner of the tournament, at age 23 (though this record was broken by [[Tiger Woods]] in 1997, when he was 21 years old).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bowser |first=Betty Ann |date=14 April 1997 |title=Year of the Tiger |publisher=PBS |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/sports/tiger_4-14.html |access-date=19 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081111000424/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/sports/tiger_4-14.html |archive-date=11 November 2008}}</ref> His 1979 win at The Open Championship similarly made him the youngest winner of the tournament in the 20th century, and the first golfer from continental Europe to win a major since [[France|Frenchman]] [[Arnaud Massy]] won The Open in 1907.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldgolfhalloffame.org/seve-ballesteros/ |title=World Golf Hall of Fame Member Profile |publisher=World Golf Hall of Fame |access-date=4 September 2013 |archive-date=21 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021190943/http://www.worldgolfhalloffame.org/seve-ballesteros/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ballesteros won the rain-delayed Masters in 1983 by five shots. As of 2023, he is the last golfer to win the Masters on a Monday.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/lists/masters-history-of-monday-finishes/ | title=The 2023 Masters could be headed for a rare Monday finish | date=8 April 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/another-green-jacket-seve |title=Seve Ballesteros wins 1983 Masters |last=Tiedemann |first=George |date=22 October 2008 |website=Golf.com |access-date=24 April 2019  |archive-date=24 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424170123/https://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/another-green-jacket-seve |url-status=live }}</ref> Ballesteros described the putt he holed on the 18th green at [[Old Course at St Andrews|St Andrews]] to win the 1984 Open Championship as "the happiest moment of my whole sporting life."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/8501571/Seve-Ballesteros-considered-1984-Open-triumph-at-St-Andrews-to-be-his-greatest-feat.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/8501571/Seve-Ballesteros-considered-1984-Open-triumph-at-St-Andrews-to-be-his-greatest-feat.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Seve Ballesteros considered 1984 Open triumph at St Andrews to be his greatest feat |last=Ballesteros |first=Seve |date=8 May 2011 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=6 July 2019 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 30 September 1983, Ballesteros joined the [[PGA Tour]]. In 1984 he played in 15 tournaments, the minimal amount allowed for a golfer with membership. The following season he played in only 9 tournaments. He was subsequently suspended by the PGA Tour for failing to meet his commitment.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-04-10-sp-3227-story.html |title=Watch Out, Seve Speaks Out : Ballesteros Talks About Beman and the Tour Feud |date=10 April 1986 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |first=Bill |last=Shirley |access-date=7 January 2020 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807044543/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-04-10-sp-3227-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1988, Ballesteros won his fifth and last major title, The Open Championship at [[Royal Lytham & St Annes]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.royallytham.org/1988_open |title=1988 Open |website=www.royallytham.org |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228004009/https://www.royallytham.org/1988_open |url-status=dead }}</ref> The final round was played on Monday after torrential rain had flooded the course and forced Saturday's play to be abandoned. He described his final round of 65 which beat [[Nick Price]] by two shots as "perhaps the best round of my entire career."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theopen.com/en/News/LatestNews/2011/12/Seve-and-Lytham.aspx |title=Seve's Lytham glories remembered |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731020034/http://www.theopen.com/en/News/LatestNews/2011/12/Seve-and-Lytham.aspx |archive-date=31 July 2012 |publisher=The Open Championship |date=19 December 2011}}</ref>

For much of the 1980s and 1990s, Ballesteros was a mainstay of the European [[Ryder Cup]] team. He scored 22½ points in 37 matches against the United States; his partnership with fellow Spaniard [[José María Olazábal]] was the most successful in the history of the competition, with 11 wins and two halved matches out of 15 pairs matches.<ref name="About">{{Cite web |last=Kelley |first=Brent |date=24 May 2019 |title=Biography of golfer Seve Ballesteros |url=http://golf.about.com/od/golfersmen/p/seveballesteros.htm |access-date=11 June 2022 |website=About.com |archive-date=11 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611222247/http://golf.about.com/od/golfersmen/p/seveballesteros.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> While Ballesteros was a member of European sides that won the Ryder Cup in 1985, retained the Cup in 1987 and 1989, and regained the Cup in 1995, the pinnacle of his career in the competition came in 1997, when he captained the winning European side at [[Valderrama Golf Club]] in [[Sotogrande]], Spain. This was the first Ryder Cup ever held in continental Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rydercup.com/2008/europe/history/past_results.html |title=Ryder Cup: Past Results |publisher=Ryder Cup |access-date=19 January 2008 |archive-date=20 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320142705/http://www.rydercup.com/2008/europe/history/past_results.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rydercup.com/2008/europe/history/results/1997.html |title=1997 Ryder Cup |publisher=Ryder Cup |access-date=19 January 2008 |archive-date=4 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104075337/http://www.rydercup.com/2008/europe/history/results/1997.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ballesteros led the [[Official World Golf Ranking]] for a total of 61 weeks in the period from their inauguration (in April 1986) to September 1989, including being world number one at the end of the 1988 season.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/living/ct-xpm-2012-05-07-sns-rt-golf-rankingsnumberonesl4e8fu7zu-20120507-story.html |title=Golf-List of world number ones |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |agency=Reuters |date=7 May 2012 |access-date=10 April 2019  |archive-date=10 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410205409/https://www.chicagotribune.com/living/ct-xpm-2012-05-07-sns-rt-golf-rankingsnumberonesl4e8fu7zu-20120507-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He also led [[McCormack's World Golf Rankings]], published in McCormack's "World Of Professional Golf" annuals (from which the official rankings were developed) in 1983, 1984 and 1985.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.golftoday.co.uk/tours/rankings/history.html |title=The Official World Golf Ranking 1986–2000 |work=Golf Today |access-date=19 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509191219/http://www.golftoday.co.uk/tours/rankings/history.html |archive-date=9 May 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He was ever-present in the end-of-season world's top ten according to those rankings for fifteen years, from 1977 to 1991 inclusive.

===Late career and retirement===
In 1999, Ballesteros was inducted into the [[World Golf Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 March 1999 |title=Plus: Golf – Hall of Fame; 3 Members Named |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9800E1D81131F930A15750C0A96F958260 |access-date=12 February 2008 |website=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215202301/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/23/sports/plus-golf-hall-of-fame-3-members-named.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He was instrumental in introducing the [[Seve Trophy]] in 2000, a team competition similar to the Ryder Cup pitting a team from Great Britain and Ireland against one from continental Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sevetrophy2005.com/en/seveballesteros.htm |title=Seve Trophy 2005: Seve Ballesteros |publisher=Seve-trophy.com |access-date=19 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050214140445/http://www.sevetrophy2005.com/en/seveballesteros.htm |archive-date=14 February 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laois.ie/LeisureandCulture/Tourism/CalendarofEventsampFestivals/SeveTrophy2007/ |publisher=Laois County Council |title=Laois County Council – Seve Trophy 2007 |access-date=19 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119173055/http://www.laois.ie/LeisureandCulture/Tourism/CalendarofEventsampFestivals/SeveTrophy2007/ |archive-date=19 November 2007 }}</ref> In 2000, Ballesteros was ranked as the 16th greatest golfer of all time by ''[[Golf Digest]]'' magazine; he was the top golfer from the continent of Europe.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HFI/is_7_51/ai_63015233 |title=50 Greatest Golfers of All Time: And What They Taught Us |access-date=5 December 2007 |last=Yocom |first=Guy |date=July 2000 |work=[[Golf Digest]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217174706/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HFI/is_7_51/ai_63015233 |archive-date=17 December 2007 }}</ref>

Ballesteros had played sparingly since the late 1990s because of back problems, and made his first start in years at the 2005 [[Madrid Open (golf)|Madrid Open]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.yourgolftravel.com/19th-hole/2009/02/25/the-greats-of-golf-profile-of-seve-ballesteros/ |title=The Greats of Golf: Profile of Seve Ballesteros |date=25 February 2009 |website=19th Hole - The Golf Blog From Your Golf Travel |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228010715/http://www.yourgolftravel.com/19th-hole/2009/02/25/the-greats-of-golf-profile-of-seve-ballesteros/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He stated a desire to play more tournaments in the 2006 season. He entered the 2006 Open Championship, having played just one other event on the European Tour, The Open de France Alstom, where he missed the cut. He ran a thriving golf course design business and had been eligible for the [[Champions Tour]] and [[European Seniors Tour]] upon turning 50 in 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/golf/article2776159.ece |title=Ballesteros calls time on competitive career after 32 years |last=Corrigan |first=James |date=17 July 2007 |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=20 January 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070629055833/http://sport.independent.co.uk/golf/article2776159.ece |archive-date=29 June 2007 |url-status=dead |location=London}}</ref> Ballesteros had been the captain of the European team in the [[Royal Trophy]] since its inception in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theroyaltrophy.com/site_2006/home.html |title=Royal Trophy 2006 |publisher=The Royal Trophy |access-date=19 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119192811/http://www.theroyaltrophy.com/site_2006/home.html |archive-date=19 January 2008 }}</ref> He was announced again as non-playing captain of the 2008 European team to defend the Royal Trophy against the Asian team at the [[Amata Spring Country Club]] in Bangkok.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theroyaltrophy.com/site_2008/team.html |title=The Royal Trophy 2008 |publisher=The Royal Trophy |access-date=19 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010080833/http://www.theroyaltrophy.com/site_2008/team.html |archive-date=10 October 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theroyaltrophy.com/site_2008/course.html |title=Amata Spring Country Club |publisher=The Royal Trophy |access-date=19 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107080054/http://www.theroyaltrophy.com/site_2008/course.html |archive-date=7 January 2008 }}</ref>

After further recurrences of his back problems, which contributed to his finishing tied for last in his only Champions Tour start, Ballesteros announced his retirement from golf on 16 July 2007, bringing down the curtain on an illustrious career.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/jul/16/golf.theopen20071 |title=Golf: Seve Ballesteros announces his retirement |date=16 July 2007 |work=The Guardian |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228004105/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/jul/16/golf.theopen20071 |url-status=live }}</ref> During the news conference, he also addressed reports in European media that he had attempted suicide, saying that those reports "were not even close to reality". He had been briefly hospitalized when he became concerned about the condition of his heart, but was released the same day after being given a clean bill of health.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/britishopen07/news/story?id=2938199 |title=Ballesteros retires after failed try on Champions Tour |work=ESPN |date=16 July 2007 |access-date=16 July 2007 |archive-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215202242/https://www.espn.com/golf/britishopen07/news/story?id=2938199 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ballesteros was a member of the [[Laureus]] World Sports Academy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.laureus.com/ |title=Sport Has The Power To Change The World |date=30 October 2019 |website=Laureus |access-date=24 April 2019  |archive-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802061419/https://www.laureus.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He had become involved in European golf course design in his later years, most famously altering the 17th hole at Valderrama before the 1997 Ryder Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.andaluciavalderramamasters.com/en/news/133-the-17th-at-valderrama-a-hole-steeped-in-history |title=The 17th at Valderrama – a hole steeped in history |date=25 July 2018 |website=www.andaluciavalderramamasters.com |access-date=26 February 2019 |archive-date=26 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226181221/https://www.andaluciavalderramamasters.com/en/news/133-the-17th-at-valderrama-a-hole-steeped-in-history |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Personal life ==
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.<!-- marriage location or divorce location? --> The couple had three children, Javier, Miguel and Carmen.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.golfchannel.com/article/golf-central-blog/javier-ballesteros-son-seve-turns-pro |title=Javier Ballesteros, Son of Seve, Turns Pro |last=Gray |first=Will |date=14 November 2014 |work=Golf Channel |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228004340/https://www.golfchannel.com/article/golf-central-blog/javier-ballesteros-son-seve-turns-pro |url-status=live }}</ref> The marriage was said to have run into trouble when Ballesteros could not accept the fact his career was on the wane.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/2393501/Ballesteros-troubles-grow-with-divorce.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/2393501/Ballesteros-troubles-grow-with-divorce.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Ballesteros troubles grow with divorce |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |first=Lewine |last=Mair |date=29 December 2004 |access-date=6 May 2011 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Death and legacy ==
At [[Madrid-Barajas Airport]] on 6 October 2008, Ballesteros lost consciousness and was admitted to hospital.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/news.htm?main&20110507&56&753725 |title=Golf great Ballesteros dies, aged 54 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413142237/http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/news.htm?main&20110507&56&753725 |archive-date=13 April 2014 |work=RTHK |date=7 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/golf/article4921609.ece |title=Severiano Ballesteros 'gravely ill' in hospital |date=10 October 2008 |newspaper=The Times |access-date=7 May 2011 |location=London |first=Sadie |last=Gray |archive-date=2 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202093448/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/golf/article4921609.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref> Six days later, he confirmed that he had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12176_4304605,00.html |title=Seve confirms brain tumour |date=18 October 2008 |work=Sky Sports |access-date=7 May 2011 |archive-date=15 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015054048/http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12176_4304605,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 15 October, Spanish news agency [[EFE]] reported that he had undergone a 12-hour operation to [[Segmental resection|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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/news/story?id=3644325&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines |title=Ballesteros stable after undergoing surgery for brain tumour |date=15 October 2008 |work=ESPN |access-date=7 May 2011 |archive-date=10 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210174619/http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3644325&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Ballesteros-faces-more-surgery-for-cancerous-1289243.php |title=Ballesteros faces more surgery for cancerous brain tumour |last=Heckle |first=Harold |date=23 October 2008 |newspaper=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |access-date=7 May 2011 |archive-date=13 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413154559/http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Ballesteros-faces-more-surgery-for-cancerous-1289243.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/golf/10/24/golf.ballesteros.tumor/index.html |title=Ballesteros 'stable' after third brain op |publisher=CNN |date=24 October 2008 |access-date=24 October 2008 |archive-date=26 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026020620/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/golf/10/24/golf.ballesteros.tumor/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/7697416.stm |title=Ballesteros leaves intensive care |date=18 November 2008 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=7 May 2011 |archive-date=9 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509052326/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/7697416.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ballesteros was discharged from hospital on 9 December 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.espn.com/golf/news/story?id=3781931 |title=Ballesteros begins chemotherapy treatment |date=19 December 2008 |work=ESPN |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228065654/http://www.espn.com/golf/news/story?id=3781931 |url-status=live }}</ref> He then returned home to northern Spain and underwent [[chemotherapy]] treatment as an outpatient.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 December 2008 |title=Ballesteros returns home after brain tumour surgery |language=en |work=The Age |agency=Agence France-Presse |location=Madrid |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/golf/ballesteros-returns-home-after-brain-tumour-surgery-20081221-ge7l4q.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215202505/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/golf/ballesteros-returns-home-after-brain-tumour-surgery-20081221-ge7l4q.html |archive-date=15 February 2023}}</ref> In January 2009, a message on his website said he had responded well to one course of chemotherapy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-golf-ballesteros-idUKTRE50L1N020090122 |title=Ballesteros says recovering well after chemotherapy |last=Rogers |first=Iain |date=22 January 2009 |work=Reuters |access-date=7 May 2011 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305082323/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-golf-ballesteros-idUKTRE50L1N020090122 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<blockquote>
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.
</blockquote>
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,<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 March 2009 |title=Ballesteros to undergo fourth round of chemo |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/news/story?id=4017722 |access-date=15 February 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> and completed his fourth and final course of chemotherapy a month later.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.golfchannel.com/article/associated-press/seve-ballesteros-speaks-publicly-about-cancer-fight |title=Seve Ballesteros speaks publicly about cancer fight |last=Strege |first=John |date=29 March 2009 |work=Golf Channel |access-date=7 August 2019 |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=7 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807151021/https://www.golfchannel.com/article/associated-press/seve-ballesteros-speaks-publicly-about-cancer-fight |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2009, 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/jun/25/seve-ballesteros-public-appearance-brain-tumour |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |title=Seve Ballesteros grateful for 'free shot' at life after brain tumour |date=25 July 2009 |first=Sid |last=Lowe |access-date=23 May 2010 |archive-date=11 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611204822/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/jun/25/seve-ballesteros-public-appearance-brain-tumour |url-status=live }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Foundation • Seve Ballesteros |url=https://seveballesteros.com/en/the-foundation/ |access-date=15 February 2023 |website=Seve Ballesteros |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 6 May 2011, Ballesteros's family released a statement announcing that his neurological condition had "suffered a severe deterioration".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/05/seve-ballesteros-condition-worsens/1 |title=Seve Ballesteros's condition worsens |last=Weir |first=Tom |newspaper=USA Today |date=6 May 2011 |access-date=6 May 2011 |archive-date=8 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708052924/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/05/seve-ballesteros-condition-worsens/1 |url-status=live }}</ref> He died within hours of the announcement in the early hours of 7 May 2011 at the age of 54; his older brother Baldomero confirmed the precise time of death at 2:10&nbsp;am [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/13311206.stm |title=Golf great Seve Ballesteros dies at 54 |work=BBC Sport |date=7 May 2011 |access-date=7 May 2011 |archive-date=7 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507152307/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/13311206.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Tributes===
The [[Open de España]] was underway when Ballesteros died. The [[European Tour]] marked his death with a moment of silence during the third round at the [[Real Club de Golf El Prat]] in Barcelona.<ref name="funeral">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/may/07/seve-ballesteros-funeral |title=Seve Ballesteros funeral to be held on Wednesday |last=Murray |first=Ewan |date=7 May 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=6 July 2019 |location=London |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807050702/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/may/07/seve-ballesteros-funeral |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Tiger Woods]] described Ballesteros as "one of the most talented and exciting golfers to ever play the game". [[Lee Westwood]] said of Ballesteros, "Seve made European golf what it is today".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/may/07/seve-ballesteros-tributes |title='An inspiration, genius, hero and friend' – tributes pour in for Seve Ballesteros |date=7 May 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=6 August 2019 |location=London |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807041138/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/may/07/seve-ballesteros-tributes |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Phil Mickelson]], who won the [[2010 Masters Tournament]], selected a Spanish-themed menu for the 2011 Masters Champions Dinner in honour of Ballesteros, who was too ill to attend. Entrees included seafood paella and manchego-topped filet mignon, with a salad course, asparagus, and tortillas as sides, plus ice cream-topped apple empanada for dessert.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelley |first=Brent |date=25 February 2020 |title=The Champions Dinner at The Masters: What's On the Menu? |url=https://www.liveabout.com/on-the-menu-the-champions-dinner-at-the-masters-1564552 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805113003/https://www.liveabout.com/on-the-menu-the-champions-dinner-at-the-masters-1564552 |archive-date=5 August 2020 |access-date=25 February 2020 |website=LiveAbout}}</ref>

At the [[Madrid Open (tennis)|Madrid Open]] tennis tournament, a moment of silence was held prior to the semi-final match between [[Rafael Nadal]] and [[Roger Federer]]. Nadal, a close friend of Ballesteros, was seen wiping away tears as he watched the video screen.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thenational.ae/sport/golf/tributes-flow-in-for-the-departed-golfing-great-seve-ballesteros |title=Tributes flow in for the departed golfing great Seve Ballesteros |date=7 May 2011 |publisher=The Beta |access-date=13 June 2019 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001731/http://www.thenational.ae/sport/golf/tributes-flow-in-for-the-departed-golfing-great-seve-ballesteros |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 8 May, at 15:08 [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]], the three major U.S. men's tours stopped play and held a moment of silence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pgatour.com/champions/news/2011/05/09/notebook.html |title=Notes: Two top-fives for Roberts, 21 years apart |publisher=PGA Tour |date=9 May 2011 |access-date=14 November 2013 |archive-date=10 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610220205/http://www.pgatour.com/champions/news/2011/05/09/notebook.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 10 May, the ''[[Irish Independent]]'' said of him: "He spoke many other languages too: the dialects of honour, of dignity, of sportsmanship, of decency, of fair play, of loyalty, of integrity, and in the end, of dauntless, unforgettable, astonishing courage. Quite simply, there has never been a finer ambassador for either his sport or his country."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/seves-dignity-and-joy-rewrote-worlds-image-of-spanish-people-2641765.html |title=Kevin Myers: Seve's dignity and joy rewrote world's image of Spanish people |last=Myers |first=Kevin |date=10 May 2011 |newspaper=Irish Independent |access-date=13 June 2019 |archive-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215202247/https://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/kevin-myers-seves-dignity-and-joy-rewrote-worlds-image-of-spanish-people-26731126.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

A funeral service was held for Ballesteros, previously cremated, at the parish church of San Pedro, in his home village of [[Pedreña]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/golf/sport/story/90047.html |title=Golf says farewell to legend Seve Ballesteros |date=11 May 2011 |work=ESPN |access-date=6 August 2019 |archive-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215202238/http://en.espn.co.uk/golf/sport/story/90047.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to the number of those in attendance, several big screens were installed outside the 400-capacity church.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/8506845/Seve-Ballesteros-funeral-mourners-pay-respects-to-golf-legend-in-moving-service.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911183430/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/8506845/Seve-Ballesteros-funeral-mourners-pay-respects-to-golf-legend-in-moving-service.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 September 2012 |title=Seve Ballesteros funeral: mourners pay respects to golf legend in moving service |date=11 May 2011 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=11 May 2011 |location=London |first=Ian |last=Chadband}}</ref> His ashes were then to be scattered at his home estate.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/may/11/funeral-seve-ballesteros-village-pedrena |title=Funeral of Seve Ballesteros takes place in his home village of Pedreña |date=11 May 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=11 May 2011 |location=London |archive-date=7 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107044444/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/may/11/funeral-seve-ballesteros-village-pedrena |url-status=live }}</ref>

The day of Ballesteros's death, the Spanish flag was raised at the [[World Golf Hall of Fame]] in Florida, the United States flag was lowered to half-staff, a photo of Ballesteros was hung in the box office, and a black ribbon was hung on the outside of his locker.<ref name="ESPN11" /> The next weekend, at nearby [[TPC Sawgrass]], the Spanish flag was flown at half-staff during the [[2011 Players Championship]] at the request of defending champion [[Tim Clark (golfer)|Tim Clark]], in place of his native [[South Africa]]n flag.<ref name="ESPN11">{{Cite web |date=9 May 2011 |title=Players Championship to honour Seve |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/golf/sport/story/89711.html |access-date=6 August 2019 |website=ESPN.com |archive-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215202250/http://en.espn.co.uk/golf/sport/story/89711.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uyr5HdlW__wC&q=%2522seve%2522+tpc+sawgrass+half+mast&pg=PA336 |title=Remembered Greatness |last=Purvis |first=Andy |date=2012 |publisher=Xulon Press |isbn=9781619968394 |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215202244/https://books.google.com/books?id=uyr5HdlW__wC&q=%2522seve%2522+tpc+sawgrass+half+mast&pg=PA336 |url-status=live }}</ref> Clark went on to state, "Seve was a hero of mine growing up...In losing [him] last week, I think the whole golfing world is saddened by that. To have his flag up here is just a small little tribute to him. Obviously he deserves a whole lot more."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://progolftalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/11/defending-champion-clark-on-decision-to-let-spanish-flag-fly/ |title=Defending champion Clark on decision to let Spanish flag fly |date=11 May 2011 |work=NBC Sports |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513230244/http://progolftalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/11/defending-champion-clark-on-decision-to-let-spanish-flag-fly/ |archive-date=13 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pgatour.com/news/2011/05/09/quick-18.html |title=Quick 18: Seve, barefoot Rocco and fishing tales |publisher=PGA Tour |date=9 May 2011 |access-date=14 November 2013 |archive-date=26 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626220435/http://www.pgatour.com/news/2011/05/09/quick-18.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/news?slug=pgatour_com-day-in-review-rd1-20110512 |title=Day In Review: A crazy day ends with Watney in the lead |last=Clayton |first=Ward |date=12 May 2011 |work=Yahoo! Sports |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515041718/http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/news?slug=pgatour_com-day-in-review-rd1-20110512 |archive-date=15 May 2011}}</ref>

===Legacy===
The [[2012 Ryder Cup]], the first to be played after Ballesteros's death, saw the European team wearing navy blue and white garments on the final day in memory of Seve, who traditionally wore navy blue on the last day of a tournament.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/sep/25/ryder-cup-2012-europe-seve-ballesteros |title=Ryder Cup 2012: Europe prepare final-day tribute to Seve Ballesteros |last=Murray |first=Ewan |date=24 September 2012 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228004416/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/sep/25/ryder-cup-2012-europe-seve-ballesteros |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, the team's kit also bore the silhouette of Ballesteros after his win at the [[1984 Open Championship]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/story/991472/europe-win-ryder-cup-in-comeback-sensation |title=Europe Win Ryder Cup In Comeback Sensation |date=1 October 2012 |work=Sky Sports |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112021005/http://news.sky.com/story/991472/europe-win-ryder-cup-in-comeback-sensation |archive-date=12 November 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rydercup.com/europe/news/olazabal-acknowledges-loves-gesture-seve-ballesteros |title=Olazabal acknowledges Love's gesture to Seve Ballesteros |date=30 September 2012 |publisher=Ryder Cup |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002233855/http://www.rydercup.com/europe/news/olazabal-acknowledges-loves-gesture-seve-ballesteros |archive-date=2 October 2012}}</ref> The Irish golfer [[Pádraig Harrington]], [[Nick Faldo]], and other European players proposed that the PGA replace the image of [[Harry Vardon]] on the [[European Tour]]'s official logo with one of Ballesteros (a silhouette of the iconic image of Ballesteros's "salute", following his win at the 1984 Open Championship).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/europeantour/8507332/Colin-Montgomerie-and-Sir-Nick-Faldo-want-Seve-Ballesteross-image-on-the-European-Tour-logo.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/europeantour/8507332/Colin-Montgomerie-and-Sir-Nick-Faldo-want-Seve-Ballesteross-image-on-the-European-Tour-logo.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Colin Montgomerie and Sir Nick Faldo want Seve Ballesteros's image on the European Tour logo |date=11 May 2011 |newspaper=The Telegraph |access-date=27 February 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 May 2011 |title=European Tour 'actively considering' Seve logo change |work=ESPN |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/golf/sport/story/91103.html |url-status=live |access-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224135622/http://en.espn.co.uk/golf/sport/story/91103.html |archive-date=24 February 2021}}</ref>

The airport of Ballesteros's homeland, [[Cantabria]], has been named after him since the Spanish Government approved the change on 16 April 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Umland |first=Taylor |date=17 April 2015 |title=Seve Ballesteros Airport a reality? |work=Golf Monthly |url=https://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/news/notice-board/seve-ballesteros-airport-a-reality-69785 |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228065633/https://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/news/notice-board/seve-ballesteros-airport-a-reality-69785 |url-status=live }}</ref> The name was changed from [[Santander Airport]] to Seve Ballesteros – Santander Airport. This change was made after the regional parliament unanimously approved a petition in May 2014. The motivation behind this popular initiative was to honor Ballesteros for being one of the most universal of Cantabrians and an example in sports and life.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.eldiariomontanes.es/cantabria/201504/16/parayas-llama-oficialmente-aeropuerto-20150416104406.html |title=Parayas ya se llama oficialmente 'Aeropuerto Seve Ballesteros-Santander |trans-title=Parayas now officially called Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport |date=16 April 2015 |publisher=[[El Diario Montañés]] |language=es |access-date=17 April 2015 |archive-date=22 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922024650/https://www.eldiariomontanes.es/cantabria/201504/16/parayas-llama-oficialmente-aeropuerto-20150416104406.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.eldiariomontanes.es/20140423/local/cantabria-general/psoe-proponen-aeropuerto-parayas-201404231641.html |title=PP, PRC y PSOE proponen que el Aeropuerto de Parayas lleve el nombre de 'Seve Ballesteros' |trans-title=PP, PRC and PSOE propose that Parayas Airport is named 'Seve Ballesteros' |date=23 April 2014 |publisher=[[El Diario Montañés]] |language=es |access-date=17 April 2015 |archive-date=17 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417155425/http://www.eldiariomontanes.es/20140423/local/cantabria-general/psoe-proponen-aeropuerto-parayas-201404231641.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2017, the European Tour Players' Player of the Year award was renamed in his honour. The first recipient of [[The Seve Ballesteros Award]] was [[Henrik Stenson]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/fitting-legacy-seve-ballesteros-name-goes-top-award-1453959 |title=Fitting legacy as Seve Ballesteros' name goes on top award |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=15 March 2017 |access-date=22 June 2020 |archive-date=25 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625042548/https://www.scotsman.com/sport/fitting-legacy-seve-ballesteros-name-goes-top-award-1453959 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Professional wins (90)==
===PGA Tour wins (9)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Legend
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|Major championships (5)
|- 
|Other PGA Tour (4)
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.
!Date
!Tournament
!Winning score
!Margin of<br>victory
!Runner(s)-up
|-
|align=center|1
|align=right|2 Apr [[1978 PGA Tour|1978]]
|[[Greater Greensboro Open]]
|−6 (72-75-69-66=282)
|1 stroke
|{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Jack Renner (golfer)|Jack Renner]], {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Fuzzy Zoeller]]
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|align=center|2
|align=right|21 Jul [[1979 PGA Tour|1979]]
|'''[[1979 Open Championship|The Open Championship]]'''
|−1 (73-65-75-70=283)
|3 strokes
|{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Ben Crenshaw]], {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Jack Nicklaus]]
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|align=center|3
|align=right|13 Apr [[1980 PGA Tour|1980]]
|'''[[1980 Masters Tournament|Masters Tournament]]'''
|−13 (66-69-68-72=275)
|4 strokes
|{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Gibby Gilbert]], {{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Jack Newton]]
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|align=center|4
|align=right|11 Apr [[1983 PGA Tour|1983]]
|'''[[1983 Masters Tournament|Masters Tournament]]''' (2)
|−8 (68-70-73-69=280)
|4 strokes
|{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Ben Crenshaw]], {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Tom Kite]]
|-
|align=center|5
|align=right|12 Jun 1983
|[[Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic]]
|−8 (69-67-70-70=276)
|2 strokes
|{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Andy Bean (golfer)|Andy Bean]], {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Craig Stadler]]
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|align=center|6
|align=right|22 Jul [[1984 PGA Tour|1984]]
|'''[[1984 Open Championship|The Open Championship]]''' (2)
|−12 (69-68-70-69=276)
|2 strokes
|{{Flagicon|FRG}} [[Bernhard Langer]], {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Tom Watson (golfer)|Tom Watson]]
|-
|align=center|7
|align=right|17 Mar [[1985 PGA Tour|1985]]
|[[USF&G Classic]]
|−11 (68-69-68=205)*
|2 strokes
|{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Peter Jacobsen]], {{Flagicon|USA}} [[John Mahaffey]]
|-
|align=center|8
|align=right|12 Jun [[1988 PGA Tour|1988]]
|[[Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic]] (2)
|−8 (72-68-69-67=276)
|Playoff
|{{Flagicon|ZAF|1982}} [[David Frost (golfer)|David Frost]], {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Ken Green (golfer)|Ken Green]],<br>{{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Greg Norman]]
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|align=center|9
|align=right|17 Jul 1988
|'''[[1988 Open Championship|The Open Championship]]''' (3)
|−11 (67-71-70-65=273)
|2 strokes
|{{Flagicon|ZWE}} [[Nick Price]]
|}
<small><nowiki>*</nowiki>''Note: The 1985 USF&G Classic was reduced to 54 holes due to inclement weather.''<ref name=erbfgm>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rPRjAAAAIBAJ&pg=6695%2C4593385 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon, U.S.) |agency=Associated Press |title=Ballesteros: He laughs last in a 'funny game' |date=18 March 1985 |page=5C |access-date=20 October 2020 |archive-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215202313/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rPRjAAAAIBAJ&pg=6695%2C4593385 |url-status=live }}</ref></small>

'''PGA Tour playoff record (1–2)'''
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result
|-style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|1
|[[1987 PGA Tour|1987]]
|'''[[1987 Masters Tournament|Masters Tournament]]'''
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Larry Mize]], {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Greg Norman]]
|Mize won with birdie on second extra hole<br>Ballesteros eliminated by par on first hole 
|-style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|2
|1987
|[[Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[J. C. Snead]]
|Lost to par on first extra hole
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|3
|[[1988 PGA Tour|1988]]
|[[Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic]]
|{{Flagicon|ZAF|1982}} [[David Frost (golfer)|David Frost]], {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Ken Green (golfer)|Ken Green]],<br>{{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Greg Norman]]
|Won with birdie on first extra hole
|}

===European Tour wins (50)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Legend
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|Major championships (5)
|- style="background:#f2ecce;"
| Flagship events (1)
|- 
|Other European Tour (44)
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.
!Date
!Tournament
!Winning score
!Margin of<br>victory
!Runner(s)-up
|-
|align=center|1
|align=right|8 Aug [[1976 European Tour|1976]]
|[[Dutch Open (golf)|Dutch Open]]
|−13 (65-73-68-69=275)
|8 strokes
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Howard Clark (golfer)|Howard Clark]]
|-
|align=center|2
|align=right|8 May [[1977 European Tour|1977]]
|[[French Open (golf)|French Open]]
|−6 (69-70-71-72=282)
|3 strokes
|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[John Bland (golfer)|John Bland]], {{flagicon|ESP|1977}} [[Antonio Garrido (golfer)|Antonio Garrido]],<br>{{flagicon|ESP|1977}} [[Manuel Piñero]], {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ian Stanley (golfer)|Ian Stanley]]
|-
|align=center|3
|align=right|25 Jun 1977
|[[Uniroyal International Championship]]
|−12 (70-70-67-69=276)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Nick Faldo]]
|-
|align=center|4
|align=right|17 Jul 1977
|[[Swiss Open]]
|−7 (68-66-70-69=273)
|3 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[John Schroeder (golfer)|John Schroeder]]
|-
|align=center|5
|align=right|21 May [[1978 European Tour|1978]]
|[[Martini International]]
|−14 (67-67-67-69=270)
|5 strokes
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Nick Faldo]]
|-
|align=center|6
|align=right|30 Jul 1978
|[[Braun German Open]]
|−20 (64-67-70-67=268)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Neil Coles]]
|-
|align=center|7
|align=right|6 Aug 1978
|[[Scandinavian Enterprise Open]]
|−9 (73-69-68-69=279)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[Dale Hayes]]
|-
|align=center|8
|align=right|3 Sep 1978
|[[Swiss Open]] (2)
|−8 (68-68-68-68=272)
|3 strokes
|{{flagicon|ESP|1977}} [[Manuel Piñero]]
|-
|align=center|9
|align=right|1 Jul [[1979 European Tour|1979]]
|[[Lada English Golf Classic]]
|−2 (73-71-71-71=286)
|6 strokes
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Neil Coles]], {{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[Simon Hobday]]
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|align=center|10
|align=right|21 Jul 1979
|'''[[1979 Open Championship|The Open Championship]]'''
|−1 (73-65-75-70=283)
|3 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Ben Crenshaw]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jack Nicklaus]]
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|align=center|11
|align=right|13 Apr [[1980 European Tour|1980]]
|'''[[1980 Masters Tournament|Masters Tournament]]'''
|−13 (66-69-68-72=275)
|4 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Gibby Gilbert]], {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jack Newton]]
|-
|align=center|12
|align=right|27 Apr 1980
|[[Madrid Open (golf)|Madrid Open]]
|−18 (68-63-70-69=270)
|3 strokes
|{{flagicon|ESP|1977}} [[Manuel Piñero]]
|-
|align=center|13
|align=right|18 May 1980
|[[Martini International]] (2)
|−2 (74-75-67-70=286)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Brian Barnes (golfer)|Brian Barnes]]
|-
|align=center|14
|align=right|27 Jul 1980
|[[Dutch Open (golf)|Dutch Open]] (2)
|−8 (69-75-65-71=280)
|3 strokes
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Sandy Lyle]]
|-
|align=center|15
|align=right|5 Jul [[1981 European Tour|1981]]
|[[Scandinavian Enterprise Open]] (2)
|−11 (69-70-68-66=273)
|5 strokes
|{{flagicon|ESP|1977}} [[Antonio Garrido (golfer)|Antonio Garrido]]
|-
|align=center|16
|align=right|4 Oct 1981
|[[Benson & Hedges Spanish Open]]
|−15 (71-67-70-65=273)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Steve Martin (golfer)|Steve Martin]]
|-
|align=center|17
|align=right|25 Apr [[1982 European Tour|1982]]
|[[Cepsa Madrid Open]] (2)
|−15 (70-69-66-68=273)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[José María Cañizares]]
|-
|align=center|18
|align=right|9 May 1982
|[[Paco Rabanne Open de France]] (2)
|−10 (71-70-72-65=278)
|4 strokes
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Sandy Lyle]]
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|align=center|19
|align=right|11 Apr [[1983 European Tour|1983]]
|'''[[1983 Masters Tournament|Masters Tournament]]''' (2)
|−8 (68-70-73-69=280)
|4 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Ben Crenshaw]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Tom Kite]]
|-
|align=center|20
|align=right|30 May 1983
|[[Sun Alliance PGA Championship]]
|−2 (69-71-67-71=278)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Ken Brown (golfer)|Ken Brown]]
|-
|align=center|21
|align=right|14 Aug 1983
|[[Carroll's Irish Open]]
|−17 (67-67-70-67=271)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Brian Barnes (golfer)|Brian Barnes]]
|-
|align=center|22
|align=right|2 Oct 1983
|[[Trophée Lancôme]]
|−19 (71-65-64-69=269)
|4 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Corey Pavin]]
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|align=center|23
|align=right|22 Jul [[1984 European Tour|1984]]
|'''[[1984 Open Championship|The Open Championship]]''' (2)
|−12 (69-68-70-69=276)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|FRG}} [[Bernhard Langer]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Tom Watson (golfer)|Tom Watson]]
|-
|align=center|24
|align=right|23 Jun [[1985 European Tour|1985]]
|[[Carroll's Irish Open]] (2)
|−10 (70-69-73-66=278)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|FRG}} [[Bernhard Langer]]
|-
|align=center|25
|align=right|7 Jul 1985
|[[Peugeot Open de France]] (3)
|−21 (62-68-64-69=263)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Sandy Lyle]]
|-
|align=center|26
|align=right|22 Sep 1985
|[[Sanyo Open]]
|−16 (66-70-65-71=272)
|3 strokes
|{{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} [[Jeff Hawkes]]
|-
|align=center|27
|align=right|27 Oct 1985
|[[Benson & Hedges Spanish Open]] (2)
|−14 (67-68-65-66=266)
|4 strokes
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Gordon Brand Jnr]]
|-
|align=center|28
|align=right|8 Jun [[1986 European Tour|1986]]
|[[Dunhill British Masters]]
|−13 (67-68-70-70=275)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Gordon Brand Jnr]]
|-
|align=center|29
|align=right|22 Jun 1986
|[[Carroll's Irish Open]] (3)
|−3 (68-75-68-74=285)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Rodger Davis]], {{flagicon|ZWE}} [[Mark McNulty]]
|-
|align=center|30
|align=right|28 Jun 1986
|[[Johnnie Walker Monte Carlo Open]]
|−11 (66-71-64-64=265)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|ZWE}} [[Mark McNulty]]
|-
|align=center|31
|align=right|7 Jul 1986
|[[Peugeot Open de France]] (4)
|−19 (65-66-69-69=269)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Vicente Fernández (golfer)|Vicente Fernández]]
|-
|align=center|32
|align=right|27 Jul 1986
|[[KLM Dutch Open]] (3)
|−17 (69-63-71-68=271)
|8 strokes
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[José Rivero]]
|-
|align=center|33
|align=right|19 Oct 1986
|[[Trophée Lancôme]] (2)
|−14 (67-69-68-70=274)
|colspan=2|Shared title with {{flagicon|FRG}} [[Bernhard Langer]]
|-
|align=center|34
|align=right|19 Apr [[1987 European Tour|1987]]
|[[Suze Open]]
|−13 (69-70-68-68=275)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ian Woosnam]]
|-
|align=center|35
|align=right|13 Mar [[1988 European Tour|1988]]
|[[Mallorca Open de Baleares]]
|−16 (70-68-67-67=272)
|6 strokes
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[José María Olazábal]]
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|align=center|36
|align=right|17 Jul 1988
|'''[[1988 Open Championship|The Open Championship]]''' (3)
|−11 (67-71-70-65=273)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|ZWE}} [[Nick Price]]
|-
|align=center|37
|align=right|31 Jul 1988
|[[Scandinavian Enterprise Open]] (3)
|−18 (67-70-66-67=270)
|5 strokes
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Gerry Taylor (golfer)|Gerry Taylor]]
|-
|align=center|38
|align=right|28 Aug 1988
|[[German Open (golf)|German Open]] (2)
|−21 (68-68-65-62=263)
|5 strokes
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Gordon Brand Jnr]]
|-
|align=center|39
|align=right|18 Sep 1988
||[[Trophée Lancôme]] (3)
|−15 (64-66-68-71=269)
|4 strokes
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[José María Olazábal]]
|-
|align=center|40
|align=right|23 Apr [[1989 European Tour|1989]]
|[[Cepsa Madrid Open]] (3)
|−16 (67-67-69-69=272)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Howard Clark (golfer)|Howard Clark]]
|-
|align=center|41
|align=right|7 May 1989
|[[Epson Grand Prix of Europe Matchplay Championship]]
|colspan=2 align=center|4 and 3
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Denis Durnian]]
|-
|align=center|42
|align=right|3 Sep 1989
|[[Ebel European Masters Swiss Open]] (3)
|−14 (65-68-66-67=266)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Craig Parry]]
|-
|align=center|43
|align=right|11 Mar [[1990 European Tour|1990]]
|[[Open Renault de Baleares]] (2)
|−19 (66-65-70-68=269)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Magnus Persson (golfer)|Magnus Persson]]
|- style="background:#f2ecce;"
|align=center|44
|align=right|27 May [[1991 European Tour|1991]]
|[[1991 Volvo PGA Championship|Volvo PGA Championship]] (2)
|−17 (67-69-65-70=271)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Colin Montgomerie]]
|-
|align=center|45
|align=right|2 Jun 1991
|[[Dunhill British Masters]] (2)
|−13 (66-66-68-75=275)
|3 strokes
|{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Eamonn Darcy]], {{flagicon|ENG}} [[David Gilford]],<br />{{flagicon|ZWE}} [[Tony Johnstone]], {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Sam Torrance]],<br />{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Keith Waters (golfer)|Keith Waters]]
|-
|align=center|46
|align=right|9 Feb [[1992 European Tour|1992]]
|[[Dubai Desert Classic]]
|−16 (66-67-69-70=272)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|NIR}} [[Ronan Rafferty]]
|-
|align=center|47
|align=right|8 Mar 1992
|[[Turespaña Open de Baleares]] (3)
|−11 (70-70-69-68=277)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Jesper Parnevik]]
|-
|align=center|48
|align=right|8 May [[1994 European Tour|1994]]
|[[Benson & Hedges International Open]]
|−7 (69-70-72-70=281)
|3 strokes
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Nick Faldo]]
|-
|align=center|49
|align=right|3 Oct 1994
|[[Mercedes German Masters]]
|−18 (68-70-65-67=270)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Ernie Els]], {{flagicon|ESP}} [[José María Olazábal]]
|-
|align=center|50
|align=right|21 May [[1995 European Tour|1995]]
|[[Peugeot Spanish Open]] (3)
|−14 (70-67-66-71=274)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Ignacio Garrido]], {{flagicon|ESP}} [[José Rivero]]
|}
<small><nowiki>*</nowiki>Ballesteros and Langer agreed to share the 1986 Trophée Lancôme after failing light caused play to halt after four holes of a playoff.</small>

'''European Tour playoff record (8–4–1)'''
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|1
|[[1977 European Tour|1977]]
|[[Uniroyal International Championship]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Nick Faldo]]
|Won with birdie on first extra hole
|-style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|2
|[[1983 European Tour|1983]]
|[[Italian Open (golf)|Italian Open]]
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Ken Brown (golfer)|Ken Brown]], {{flagicon|FRG}} [[Bernhard Langer]]
|Langer won with birdie on second extra hole<br>Ballesteros eliminated by par on first hole
|-style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|3
|[[1984 European Tour|1984]]
|[[Trophée Lancôme]]
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Sandy Lyle]]
|Lost to birdie on first extra hole
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|4
|[[1985 European Tour|1985]]
|[[Carroll's Irish Open]]
|{{flagicon|FRG}} [[Bernhard Langer]]
|Won with birdie on second extra hole
|-style="background:#FFD800;"
|align=center|5
|[[1986 European Tour|1986]]
|[[Trophée Lancôme]]
|{{flagicon|FRG}} [[Bernhard Langer]]
|Playoff abandoned after four holes due to darkness; tournament shared
|-style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|6
|[[1987 European Tour|1987]]
|'''[[1987 Masters Tournament|Masters Tournament]]'''
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Larry Mize]], {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Greg Norman]]
|Mize won with birdie on second extra hole<br>Ballesteros eliminated by par on first hole
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|7
|[[1987 European Tour|1987]]
|[[Suze Open]]
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ian Woosnam]]
|Won with par on first extra hole
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|8
|[[1990 European Tour|1990]]
|[[Open Renault de Baleares]]
|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Magnus Persson (golfer)|Magnus Persson]]
|Won with par on first extra hole
|-style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|9
|[[1991 European Tour|1991]]
|[[Peugeot Spanish Open]]
|{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Eduardo Romero]]
|Lost to birdie on seventh extra hole
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|10
|1991
|[[1991 Volvo PGA Championship|Volvo PGA Championship]]
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Colin Montgomerie]]
|Won with birdie on first extra hole
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|11
|[[1992 European Tour|1992]]
|[[Dubai Desert Classic]]
|{{flagicon|NIR}} [[Ronan Rafferty]]
|Won with birdie on second extra hole
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|12
|1992
|[[Turespaña Open de Baleares]]
|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Jesper Parnevik]]
|Won with birdie on sixth extra hole
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|13
|[[1994 European Tour|1994]]
|[[Mercedes German Masters]]
|{{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Ernie Els]], {{flagicon|ESP}} [[José María Olazábal]]
|Won with birdie on first extra hole
|}

===PGA of Japan Tour wins (6)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.
!Date
!Tournament
!Winning score
!Margin of<br>victory
!Runner-up
|-
|align=center|1
|align=right|20 Nov [[1977 PGA of Japan Tour|1977]]
|[[Japan Open Golf Championship]]
|E (69-72-72-71=284)
|1 stroke
|{{Flagicon|JPN|1870}} [[Takashi Murakami (golfer)|Takashi Murakami]]
|-
|align=center|2
|align=right|27 Nov 1977
|[[Dunlop Phoenix Tournament]]
|−6 (68-70-73-71=282)
|1 stroke
|{{Flagicon|JPN|1870}} [[Kikuo Arai]]
|-
|align=center|3
|align=right|5 Nov [[1978 PGA of Japan Tour|1978]]
|[[Japan Open Golf Championship]] (2)
|−7 (68-67-71-75=281)
|Playoff
|{{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Graham Marsh]]
|-
|align=center|4
|align=right|22 Nov [[1981 PGA of Japan Tour|1981]]
|[[Dunlop Phoenix Tournament]] (2)
|−9 (72-66-69-72=279)
|3 strokes
|{{Flagicon|JPN|1870}} [[Tsuneyuki Nakajima]]
|-
|align=center|5
|align=right|13 Nov [[1988 PGA of Japan Tour|1988]]
|[[Visa Taiheiyo Club Masters]]
|−7 (71-71-68-71=281)
|3 strokes
|{{Flagicon|JPN|1870}} [[Yasuhiro Funatogawa]]
|-
|align=center|6
|align=right|5 May [[1991 PGA of Japan Tour|1991]]
|[[The Crowns]]
|−5 (67-75-64-69=275)
|1 stroke
|{{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Roger Mackay]]
|}

'''PGA of Japan Tour playoff record (1–1)'''
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|1
|[[1978 PGA of Japan Tour|1978]]
|[[Japan Open Golf Championship]]
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Graham Marsh]]
|Won with birdie on first extra hole
|-style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|2
|[[1991 PGA of Japan Tour|1991]]
|[[Dunlop Phoenix Tournament]]
|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} [[Isao Aoki]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jay Don Blake]],<br>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Larry Nelson]]
|Nelson won with par on fourth extra hole<br>Ballesteros eliminated by birdie on third hole<br>Blake eliminated by par on first hole
|}

===PGA Tour of Australia wins (1)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.
!Date
!Tournament
!Winning score
!Margin of<br>victory
!Runner-up
|-
|align=center|1
|align=right|8 Nov 1981
|[[Mayne Nickless Australian PGA Championship]]
|−6 (73-74-66-69=282)
|3 strokes
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Bill Dunk]]
|}

=== New Zealand Golf Circuit wins (1) ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.
!Date
!Tournament
!Winning score
!Margin of<br>victory
!Runner-up
|-
|align=center|1
|align=right|4 Dec [[1977–78 New Zealand Golf Circuit|1977]]
|[[Otago Charity Classic]]
|−17 (69-67-66-67=271)
|3 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Bob Byman]]
|}

===Safari Circuit wins (1)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.
!Date
!Tournament
!Winning score
!Margin of<br>victory
!Runner-up
|-
|align=center|1
|align=right|12 Mar 1978
|[[Kenya Open]]
|−10 (73-66-69-66=274)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Bernard Gallacher]]
|}

===Other wins (27)===
*1974 Spanish National Championship for under 25s, Open de Vizcaya
*1975 Spanish National Championship for under 25s
*1976 Memorial Donald Swaelens, Cataluña Championship, Tenerife Championship, [[Trophée Lancôme|Lancome Trophy]], [[WGC-World Cup|World Cup of Golf]] (with [[Manuel Piñero]])
*1977 [[Braun International Golf]] (Germany), [[WGC-World Cup|World Cup of Golf]] (with [[Antonio Garrido (golfer)|Antonio Garrido]])
*1978 Spanish National Championship for under 25s
*1979 Open el Prat
*1981 [[Suntory World Match Play Championship]]
*1982 Masters de San Remo (Italy), [[Suntory World Match Play Championship]]
*1983 [[Nedbank Golf Challenge|Million Dollar Challenge]] (South Africa)
*1984 [[Suntory World Match Play Championship]], [[Nedbank Golf Challenge|Million Dollar Challenge]] (South Africa)
*1985 Spanish Professional Closed Championship,<ref name=":0" /> [[Suntory World Match Play Championship]], Campeonato de España-Codorniu
*1987 Spanish Professional Closed Championship<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=2020 Official Competition Guide |url=http://www.hierro3-reinodeleon.es/data/uploads/files/Gu%C3%ADa%20de%20Campos%20de%20Golf%202020.pdf |publisher=Royal Spanish Golf Federation |pages=114–115 |access-date=9 November 2020 |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023084424/http://www.hierro3-reinodeleon.es/data/uploads/files/Gu%C3%ADa%20de%20Campos%20de%20Golf%202020.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
*1988 APG Larios
*1991 [[Toyota World Match Play Championship]]
*1992 Copa Quinto Centenario por Equipos
*1995 [[Open Novotel Perrier|Tournoi Perrier de Paris]] (with [[José María Olazábal]])

==Major championships==
===Wins (5)===
{|class="wikitable"
!Year!!Championship!!54 holes!!Winning score!!Margin!!Runner(s)-up
|- style="background:#abcdef;"
| align=center|[[1979 Open Championship|1979]] ||[[The Open Championship]] ||2 shot deficit ||−1 (73-65-75-70=283) ||3 strokes ||{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Jack Nicklaus]], {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Ben Crenshaw]]
|- style="background:#d0f0c0;"
| align=center|[[1980 Masters Tournament|1980]] ||[[Masters Tournament]] ||7 shot lead ||−13 (66-69-68-72=275) ||4 strokes ||{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Gibby Gilbert]], {{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Jack Newton]]
|- style="background:#d0f0c0;"
| align=center|[[1983 Masters Tournament|1983]] ||[[Masters Tournament]] <small> (2)</small>||1 shot deficit ||−8 (68-70-73-69=280) ||4 strokes ||{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Ben Crenshaw]], {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Tom Kite]]
|- style="background:#abcdef;"
| align=center|[[1984 Open Championship|1984]] ||[[The Open Championship]] <small> (2)</small>||2 shot deficit ||−12 (69-68-70-69=276) ||2 strokes ||{{Flagicon|FRG}} [[Bernhard Langer]], {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Tom Watson (golfer)|Tom Watson]]
|- style="background:#abcdef;"
| align=center|[[1988 Open Championship|1988]] ||[[The Open Championship]] <small> (3)</small>||2 shot deficit ||−11 (67-71-70-65=273) ||2 strokes ||{{Flagicon|ZWE}} [[Nick Price]]
|}

===Results timeline===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !! 1975 !! 1976 !! 1977 !! 1978 !! 1979
|-
|align=left|[[Masters Tournament]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|T33
|T18
|T12
|-
|align=left|[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|T16
|CUT
|-
|align=left|[[The Open Championship]]
|CUT
|style="background:yellow;"|T2
|T15
|T17
|style="background:lime;"|'''1'''
|-
|align=left|[[PGA Championship]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !!1980 !! 1981 !! 1982 !! 1983 !! 1984 !! 1985 !! 1986 !! 1987 !! 1988 !! 1989
|-
|align=left|[[Masters Tournament]]
|style="background:lime;"|'''1'''
|CUT
|style="background:yellow;"|T3
|style="background:lime;"|'''1'''
|CUT
|style="background:yellow;"|T2
|style="background:yellow;"|4
|style="background:yellow;"|T2
|T11
|style="background:yellow;"|5
|-
|align=left|[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]]
|DQ
|T41
|CUT
|style="background:yellow;"|T4
|T30
|style="background:yellow;"|T5
|T24
|style="background:yellow;"|3
|T32
|T43
|-
|align=left|[[The Open Championship]]
|T19
|T39
|T13
|style="background:yellow;"|T6
|style="background:lime;"|'''1'''
|T39
|style="background:yellow;"|T6
|T50
|style="background:lime;"|'''1'''
|T77
|-
|align=left|[[PGA Championship]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|T33
|13
|T27
|style="background:yellow;"|5
|T32
|CUT
|style="background:yellow;"|T10
|CUT
|T12
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !! 1990 !! 1991 !! 1992 !! 1993 !! 1994 !! 1995 !! 1996 !! 1997 !! 1998 !! 1999
|-
|align=left|[[Masters Tournament]]
|style="background:yellow;"|T7
|T22
|T59
|T11
|T18
|T45
|43
|CUT
|CUT
|CUT
|-
|align=left|[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]]
|T33
|CUT
|T23
|CUT
|T18
|CUT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|-
|align=left|[[The Open Championship]]
|CUT
|style="background:yellow;"|T9
|CUT
|T27
|T38
|T40
|CUT
|CUT
|CUT
|CUT
|-
|align=left|[[PGA Championship]]
|CUT
|T23
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|CUT
|CUT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !! 2000 !! 2001 !! 2002 !! 2003 !! 2004 !! 2005 !! 2006 !! 2007
|-
|align=left|[[Masters Tournament]]
|CUT
|CUT
|CUT
|CUT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|CUT
|-
|align=left|[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|-
|align=left|[[The Open Championship]]
|CUT
|CUT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|CUT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|-
|align=left|[[PGA Championship]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|}
{{legend|lime|Win}}
{{legend|yellow|Top 10}}
{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}
CUT = missed the half-way cut<br />
DQ = disqualified<br />
"T" = tied

===Summary===
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
!Tournament !! Wins !! 2nd !! 3rd !! Top-5 !! Top-10 !! Top-25 !! Events !! Cuts made
|-
|align=left|[[Masters Tournament]]         || 2 || 2 || 1 ||  7 ||  8 || 14 || 28 || 18
|-
|align=left|[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] || 0 || 0 || 1 ||  3 ||  3 ||  7 || 18 || 12
|-
|align=left|[[The Open Championship]]      || 3 || 1 || 0 ||  4 ||  7 || 11 || 28 || 18
|-
|align=left|[[PGA Championship]]           || 0 || 0 || 0 ||  1 ||  2 ||  5 || 13 ||  8
|-
!Totals                                    !! 5 !! 3 !! 2 !! 15 !! 20 !! 37 !! 87 !! 56
|}
*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)

==Results in The Players Championship==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament
!1979
!1980
!1981
!1982
!1983
!1984
!1985
!1986
!1987
!1988
!1989
|-
|align=left|[[The Players Championship]]
|CUT
|style="background:yellow;"|T3
|T29
|style="background:yellow;"|T6
|T35
|style="background:yellow;"|T3
|CUT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|T65
|CUT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament
!1990
!1991
!1992
!1993
!1994
!1995
!1996
!1997
!1998
!1999
|-
|align=left|[[The Players Championship]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|T63
|CUT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|CUT
|T37
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|CUT
|}
{{legend|yellow|Top 10}}
{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}
CUT = missed the halfway cut<br/>
"T" indicates a tie for a place

==Team appearances==
*[[Ryder Cup]] (representing Europe): [[1979 Ryder Cup|1979]], [[1983 Ryder Cup|1983]], [[1985 Ryder Cup|1985]] (winners), [[1987 Ryder Cup|1987]] (winners), [[1989 Ryder Cup|1989]] (tied, cup retained), [[1991 Ryder Cup|1991]], [[1993 Ryder Cup|1993]], [[1995 Ryder Cup|1995]] (winners), [[1997 Ryder Cup|1997]] (winners – non-playing captain)
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Ryder Cup points record 
!1979!! 1981!! 1983!! 1985!! 1987!! 1989!! 1991!! 1993!! 1995!!  Total
|-
|1 ||- ||3 ||3.5 ||4 ||3.5 ||4.5 ||2 ||1 || 22.5
|}

*[[World Cup (men's golf)|World Cup]] (representing Spain): [[1975 World Cup (men's golf)|1975]], [[1976 World Cup (men's golf)|1976]] (winners), [[1977 World Cup (men's golf)|1977]] (winners), [[1991 World Cup (men's golf)|1991]]
*[[Double Diamond International]]: 1975 (Rest of the World), 1976 (Continental Europe), 1977 (Continental Europe)
*[[Hennessy Cognac Cup]] (representing the Continent of Europe): 1976, 1978, 1980
*[[Dunhill Cup]] (representing Spain): [[1985 Dunhill Cup|1985]], [[1986 Dunhill Cup|1986]], [[1988 Dunhill Cup|1988]]
*[[Seve Trophy]] (representing continental Europe): [[2000 Seve Trophy|2000]] (winners - playing captain), [[2002 Seve Trophy|2002]] (playing captain), [[2003 Seve Trophy|2003]] (playing captain), [[2005 Seve Trophy|2005]] (non-playing captain), [[2007 Seve Trophy|2007]] (non-playing captain)
*[[Royal Trophy]] (representing Europe): 2006 (winners – non-playing captain), [[2007 Royal Trophy|2007]] (winners – non-playing captain)

==Equipment==
Ballesteros used [[Ping (golf)|Ping]] putters consistently throughout his career and has more golden clubs for wins in the Ping Gold Putter Vault than any other player.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pgatour.com/equipmentreport/2019/01/10/stories-from-pings-gold-putter-vault.html |title=6 fascinating stories from Ping's Gold Putter Vault |last=Tursky |first=Andrew |date=10 January 2019 |publisher=PGA Tour |access-date=8 February 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209232458/https://www.pgatour.com/equipmentreport/2019/01/10/stories-from-pings-gold-putter-vault.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/40-years-of-hearing-that-sweet-ping-1.190374 |title=40 years of hearing that sweet 'ping' |last=Gilleece |first=Dermot |date=29 May 1999 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=8 February 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209232253/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/40-years-of-hearing-that-sweet-ping-1.190374 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal bar|Biography|Spain|Sports}}
*[[List of golfers with most European Tour wins]]
*[[List of golfers with most PGA Tour wins]]
*[[List of men's major championships winning golfers]]
*[[List of golf course architects]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.seveballesteros.com}}
*{{EuroTour player|8}}
*{{PGATour player|01051}}
*{{JapanTour player|10161}}
*{{OWGR|238}}
*{{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050918103624/http://golf.about.com/od/golfersmen/p/seveballesteros.htm |title=Seve Ballesteros at golf.about.com |date=18 September 2005 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080214235730/http://www.golflegends.org/seve-ballesteros.php Seve Ballesteros] profile at Golf Legends
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110201141059/http://www.seveballesterosfoundation.org/ Official Seve Ballesteros Foundation homepage]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100722233720/http://www.seveacademy.com/ Official home page for the Seve Ballesteros Golf Academy]
*[http://www.economist.com/node/18709497 ''The Economist'' Obituary]
*[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/sports/golf/08ballesteros.html ''New York Times'' Obituary]
*[https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-seve-ballesteros-20110508-story.html ''Los Angeles Times'' Obituary]
*[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/may/07/seve-ballesteros-obituary ''The Guardian'' Obituary]
*{{IMDb title|3149640|Seve the Movie (2014)}}

{{Golf world number ones (men)}}
{{navboxes
|title=Seve Ballesteros in the [[Men's major golf championships|Major championships]]
|list1=
{{The Masters champions}}
{{The Open champions}}
}}
{{European Tour Order of Merit winners}}
{{European Tour Golfer of the Year}}
{{BMW PGA Championship champions}}
{{navboxes|title=Seve Ballesteros in the [[Ryder Cup]]
|list1={{European Ryder Cup Captains}}
{{1979 European Ryder Cup team}}
{{1983 European Ryder Cup team}}
{{1985 European Ryder Cup team}}
{{1987 European Ryder Cup team}}
{{1989 European Ryder Cup team}}
{{1991 European Ryder Cup team}}
{{1993 European Ryder Cup team}}
{{1995 European Ryder Cup team}}
{{1997 European Ryder Cup team}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Awards and achievements
|state=autocollapse
|list1=
{{Prince of Asturias Award for Sports}}
{{s-start}}
{{S-ach|aw}}
{{Succession box|before={{flagicon|USA}} [[Carl Lewis]]|title=[[BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year]]|years=1984|after={{flagicon|GER}} [[Boris Becker]]}}
{{Succession box|before={{flagicon|ESP}} [[Juan Antonio Samaranch]]|title=[[Prince of Asturias Award#Prince or Princess of Asturias Award for Sports|Prince of Asturias Award for Sports]]|years=1989|after={{flagicon|ESP}} [[Alfonso Pons]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year}}
{{BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballesteros, Seve}}
[[Category:Spanish male golfers]]
[[Category:Golfers from Cantabria]]
[[Category:European Tour golfers]]
[[Category:PGA Tour golfers]]
[[Category:Ryder Cup competitors for Europe]]
[[Category:Winners of men's major golf championships]]
[[Category:World Golf Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Golf course architects]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year winners]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement Award recipients]]
[[Category:People from Trasmiera]]
[[Category:Deaths from brain cancer in Spain]]
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Spanish sportsmen]]