Seve retires - thanks for the memories

madds

http://www.sportinglife.com/golf/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=golf/07/07/16/GOLF_Ballesteros.html

I'm lucky to be old enough to remember the great man at the peak of his career. So many great shots, so many escapes, there was a feeling of magic about him in everything he did. I have fond memories of watching him start two back of Watson and Baker-Finch in St. Andrews in '84. A birdie 3 on 18 enabled him to beat Watson by a shot.

I was just 12 at the time but his celebratory fist punching as his putt rolled into the cup and the response from the crowd is something I've never forgotten and I can honestly say he was one of the main reasons I took up the game.

It's been painful to watch him over the last 8 years trying to recapture the swashbuckling style he possessed from when he first arrived on the scene in the late-70's until the start of his decline in the mid-90's.

Strong-willed to the point of being stubborn, he fought battles against both the European and US PGA commissions to better the playing conditions for himself and his colleagues.

Thanks for the memories Seve.

smashey

I'm glad he finally decided to retire. It hurt to watch him over the past decade when you remember what he was once capable of.

Wigertoods

I'll second that.I'm sure it was a tough decision for him but the right one.
A true legend of the game.

BrianTheMessiah

It's rumoured he was contemplating suicide. That's very sad. Great player. Not many characters like him in the game anymore.

Mister Sifter

BrianTheMessiah wrote:

It's rumoured he was contemplating suicide. That's very sad.

Yes, very lazy, untrue rumours. Listened to him speaking on 5 live the other day and he said it was all absolute nonsense.

I'm too young to remember him in his prime, but my dad has a heap of videos and he was amazing. Read his autobiography a few years back and it was one of the best books i ever read.

An absolute legend!

bigtimecharlie

Kinda glad to see him retire, chalking up huge scores while truly unable to play as he did when in his prime.

Adiaga 2

Graeme,

Which Seve book did you read? Don't think his autobiography is out til september.. There seems to be a few books out there on his life though. Looking to pick up a decent book on the great man..

Cheers.

Graeme1982 wrote:

Yes, very lazy, untrue rumours. Listened to him speaking on 5 live the other day and he said it was all absolute nonsense.

I'm too young to remember him in his prime, but my dad has a heap of videos and he was amazing. Read his autobiography a few years back and it was one of the best books i ever read.

An absolute legend!

Mister Sifter

I cant remember the author's name. I'll try and find out over the weekend for you. Its back in Scotland. I'm pretty sure its not the one that comes up on Amazon though.

I'd really recommend the one i read... think you could be right in that it was a biography, but really is an excellent read!

His autobiography will be a must-read too.

Adiaga 2

Thanks! There are a few on amazon but probably some are duds. I bid for one on ebay a couple of weeks ago called "seve: flawed genius" i think. It was written by british journalist. ebay and me don't get on very well though - never win anything i bid for.. Lettuce know if you find out the title..
Cheers!