Farewell to a genius..

When I was growing up in the mid to late 80s, just before the RTB news at 7pm there was a countdown that was sponsored by ROLEX. As part of the deal, ROLEX showed a video of Severiano Ballesteros when he made birdie on the last hole at St Andrews to win his second claret jug.

I turned around and told my dad that I wanted to be like him. How could one forget that fist pump? It was simply magnificent..

He was a master of everything.. short game, putting and especially shaping shots into the green. Though I never had the privilege to meet or see Seve in real life, I can appreciate from TV footage and books the positive impact he brought to the game. It was like Picasso with a club..

I believe his first major win in 1980 paved the way for other Europeans to challenge golf's four majors with Faldo, Woosnam, Lyle and Olazabal winning majors soon after.

Very sad to see him leave so soon..

Severiano Ballesteros - 1957 to 2011