12/21/24
May 07, 2011
Golfer Seve Ballesteros Dies: Severiano Ballesteros, golf legend, has passed away at 54. If you could say anything about his game, was that he could win a British Open from the car park (via MetaFilter).
When I was much younger, I only followed golf whenever my dad had it on TV.
To me, there were four great golfers:
Nick Faldo
Jack Nicklaus
Greg Norman
Seve Ballesteros
I thought Seve was the coolest because he only seemed to show up for the majors, he always looked the suavest, and he had a cool name.
He never won at Royal St. George's (home of 2011 The Open Championship), but I'm sure they'll have a nice tribute then.
posted by grum@work at 08:29 AM on May 07, 2011
posted by etagloh at 10:16 AM on May 07, 2011
The car park link reminded me how insipid current golf commentary is; "the golfing gods really are with the smiling spaniard today" is some poetic stuff.
Seve will be missed.
posted by dfleming at 10:57 AM on May 07, 2011
I should say how insipid it is now. Then, it actually added to the mystique of coming down the back 9 of a major.
posted by dfleming at 11:23 AM on May 07, 2011
I don't think it's an exaggeration to call Seve the father of European golf, in the way the term is used today. (Lee Westwood thinks so.) You can look at the expansion of the UK&I Ryder Cup team in the late 70s to include Europe, its rise to success in the mid-80s, and Seve leading the team to victory in Valderrama, the first venue outside the UK and USA. Or the formation of the European Tour.
Too soon a loss.
posted by etagloh at 12:43 PM on May 07, 2011
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posted by Howard_T at 02:52 PM on May 07, 2011
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"I miss, I miss, I miss, I make." -- Ballesteros when asked by a reporter to describe how he four-putted a green at the Masters.
posted by Demophon at 04:07 PM on May 07, 2011
Great golfer. Hugely entertaining accent too. Always loved the American Express ads he did. They were fodder for a fair few comedians back in the day.
RIP Seve.
Getting rather tiresome having all these people I respected start dying. Getting older sucks.
posted by Drood at 09:45 PM on May 07, 2011
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"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. "
posted by owlhouse at 11:53 PM on May 07, 2011
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posted by tommybiden at 10:55 AM on May 08, 2011
Thanks, owlhouse. Fitting. Would love to hear JJ's thoughts on Seve.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:33 PM on May 08, 2011
Once I get past my feelings, I'll contribute some thoughts. I never met him, only saw him play in the flesh twice that I can recall and I've been almost cynically knowing about his imminent demise for months, but it still felt like I'd been kicked in the guts when I heard the news. I'm trying to write a post for a blog I've been mucking about with, but just can't get to the end of it. I'll let you know when I do, although I'm not sure anything could more aptly (or succinctly) say how I felt about him than owly's Roosevelt quote. He was the man and when he was on form, he owned the arena.
posted by JJ at 05:51 AM on May 09, 2011
Seve died today.
I remember when I was a younger man by much and my brother and I went to the Westchester Classic. We were walking between holes and decided to stop and watch Seve tee off. We were beyond where anyone's drive had landed previously and way off in the rough. All of a sudden my brother yells at me to "watch it". Seve missed my head by inches. His ball is in the trees behind us. When he finally gets down the fairway to where we are standing, my brother said to him, "Nice drive." Seve just laughed and said, "Happens all the time except I usually hit the kid instead of miss." I rooted for him ever since.