Severiano "Seve" Ballesteros Sota (April 9, 1957 – May 7, 2011) was a Spanish professional golfer, a World No. 1 who was one of the sport’s leading figures from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s. He gained attention in the golfing world in 1976, when at the age of 19 he finished second at the British Open. A member of a gifted golfing family, Ballesteros won five major championships between 1979 and 1988, the British Open three times, and The Masters twice. He was also successful in the Ryder Cup, helping the European team to five wins both as a player and captain, and won the World Match Play Championship a record-tying five times. He is best known for his great short game, and his erratic driving of the golf ball. He is generally regarded as the greatest Spanish golfer of all time.
Seve Bellesteros Cause of Death
On 6 May 2011, his family released a press release announcing that Ballesteros’s neurological condition had "suffered a severe deterioration". He died within hours of the announcement in the early hours of 7 May 2011.
Tiger Woods said of Ballesteros that he was "one of the most talented and exciting golfers to ever play the game"