It has been a couple of weeks since the passing of one of the modern greats, Seve Ballesteros. And it just seems that he left us too soon. He stopped playing competitive golf too soon, and he passed too soon.
It seems at odds with the fact that Arnold and Jack are both the patriarchs of modern golf, revered for their golf, charity, support of the game and mentoring of young talent, and Seve is gone.
To most fans, he burst onto the scene in 1976 as a precocious teenager in the Open, playing recovery and chip shots that made the world take notice, playing shots that made veterans like Lee Trevino admire in awe, call his wife into the lounge room to watch Seve in the closing holes.
This article is not about his biography, it is a story about Seve in my life.
As a teenager I loved golf, still do. I recall that our junior pennant team in Canberra used to have video nights, watching the majors, at about the time that golf was starting to show majors free-to-air. I remember watching the highlight reel of the 1978 Masters, won by Gary Player when he shot an amazing back nine and birdied seven of the last 10 holes to win. His partner that day was Seve, who watched in awe and genuinely embraced Player on the 18th.
Player later recalled that he had told Seve, “You see these people? They do not think I can win, I will show them.” And he did.
And after the round, Seve thanked Player for showing him how to win at Augusta. As we all know, Seve won twice, two years later in 1980 and again in 1983, winning both tournaments by four shots.
I read Seve’s first book – ‘Seve, A Young Champion’ – and I marveled at how he had learned the game. I loved the intensity that he played, and how he went out to beat players – as I recently read – I shook their hand, and I would be thinking, “I am going to bury you.” And I loved his commitment to the short game.
The things that stayed with me my entire life were his love of competition and his brilliance in recovery. I remember reading his book in the early ’80s and practising my short game in Townsville. Then going out in a 72 hole tournament and playing some of the best recoveries I could imagine.
His imagination was amazing, he imagined shots no-one could see and performed them. And that rubbed off. Even as recently as the last few weeks, since re-acquainting myself with my old friend on YouTube, the improvement in my recovery shots has been significant. Seve just reminds you to see the possibilities, to visualise success and then trust the shot.
His love of competition was the other standout. He lived for the Ryder Cup. In his youth he had been badly treated by some of the American professionals on the US Tour. One putt Jessie, and other taunts for a player who beat them at their own game in their home towns. He really did not enjoy the travel or separation of playing the Tour, and when the Ryder Cup was played – he played to win.
I watched the Lehman match from 1995 twice in the last couple of weeks. Thanks YouTube. His game had gone, he couldn’t find the fairway and he was picked to go out first because it was unlikely that he could win a match at the back of the sheet.
And he hit the ball all over the course, chipped in, hit amazing shots with his soft hands, and stayed in the match. Even after nine, and finally succumbing 4/3. But the recovery golf and his ability to stay in the match without any semblance of form or game was inspiring.
His teammates watching before they played their matches, were left in awe at the fight and courage he demonstrated hole after hole. But he couldn’t salvage points in the match. Lehman, watching the fireworks from a ringside seat, patiently played his game and won. But it is Seve who is remembered, who inspired his team to a victory.
I loved watching Seve at the Masters, his successes, and failures out there for all to see. Nicklaus won in ’86, but Seve had his chance until a second shot into the water at 15 ruined his dream.
He won three British Opens, including a famous victory against Nick Price and Nick Faldo in 1988, when he shot a course record 65 to win the event. Going head to head against Price, who played beautifully all day and then finishing the round with a great up and down on 18 to win.
We all remember the car park Open at Lytham. Hitting the ball 70 yards offline with that famous follow through, and asking his caddie, “What is over there? I don’t know that is the one place on the course we have not been to this week.”
Interesting that he played his best golf at the Masters, with its premium on shot making, short game and putting excellence on lightning quick greens. And at the Open, where imagination in the links and in windswept dry terrains rewarded shot making.
To most, he will always be remembered for the Ryder Cup. For breathing life into a competition that had been dominated by the American side. For being the European talisman at head to head competition.
And what will I miss about Seve? I will miss the smile. The sand iron in his hand, and the recovery that mere mortals could not imagine let alone execute. The look when in contention.
And I am grateful that he played in my era, and that I can reminisce by watching his exploits in an internet media savvy world. I am grateful that I can re-live the moments that made Seve unique.
Rest in peace Seve Ballesteros. Thank you for reminding us all why we love golf.
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