Golfer Severiano Ballesteros, at his peak arguably the most exciting golfer in Europe, has died of complications from a brain tumor at the age of 54.
Ballesteros burst on to the golf scene as a teenager in the late ’70s and quickly captivated spectators with his dazzling style of play. Over the course of his career Ballesteros won three British Opens and two Masters, and was instrumental in opening up the Ryder Cup to players from Continental Europe.
Ballesteros retired from golf in 2007 after struggling with back pain. He was diagnosed with brain cancer the next year after fainting in the Madrid airport.
Some clips of Ballesteros doing what he did best:
At the 1984 British Open:
At the 1983 Masters:
At the 1985 Ryder Cup:
In the 1997 French Open:
