Nationality: Spain
Father: Baldomero (d)
Baldomero, his father, had formed part of one of the best rowing crews in history in Spanish "traineras" (fixed bench fishermen's boat).
European Tour wins: 54
Ryder Cup Appearances: 8 (1979, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995)
If Arnold Palmer had not already made golf fans aware of the word 'charisma', Seve Ballesteros would have done it for them.
Ballesteros is the successor to Gary Player's position as the game's foremost international competitor, having been victorious in a dozen different national Opens as well as winning nearly 70 times in 17 different countries. In 1979, he was the youngest winner of the Open this century, and in 1980 he became the youngest ever winner of the Masters.
Seve, the youngest of four golfing brothers raised by a farmer in Pedrena in northern Spain, has 'invented' more shots than any other contemporary golfer. His unique ability to imagine and execute improbable strokes is an invaluable legacy of learning to play the game with just one club. The chip shot he played to the final green of the 1976 Open indicated his genius; the 3-wood he played from a bunker to the final green of his singles match in the 1983 Ryder Cup confirmed it.
Ballesteros was unquestionably Europe's leading golfer for 10 years or more, until Faldo assumed the mantle on the cusp of the 1980s and 1990s.
Three-times Open champion Seve Ballesteros has announced his retirement from golf.
The Spaniard, also twice a winner of the US Masters, made public the new at a new conference at Carnoustie, ahead of this week's Open Championship. He said: "This has been the most difficult decision of my life."
European golf's most charismatic figure began to suffer serious back problems in the late 1990s and his career has never recovered during lengthy lay-offs.
His last attempted comeback, at the Masters in April, finished last with rounds of 86 and 80, and soon after decided that his game was not good enough for Carnoustie.
Ballesteros turned 50 the Monday after Augusta and a month later made his debut on the US Seniors Tour, but he finished joint last with 67-year-old Lee Trevino and admitted he had been contemplating his future since then.
Ballesteros, who made his Open debut as an 18-year-old at Carnoustie in 1975, said: "For a few months there was something confused inside me, an internal fight.
"My head said 'I think you should retire' but my heart was telling me you would be better to continue playing and competing.
"It was difficult for quite a while but finally I decided this year to go and try the Champions Tour. I went there, and the weather was nice, but I only played one tournament and I came back.
"That really made me think very deeply and really question, either you continue or you stop playing. I made probably the hardest decision of my career and I decided to retire.
"I have to say that golf has given me so much over the years that it's really hard to give back even 25 per cent of how much I got. It gave me the pleasure of competing and feeling the glory of winning.
"It gave me the chance of travelling around the world and meeting people and the great feeling of people who showed me understanding and appreciation of what I have done in the game of golf.
"I feel a very, very lucky person and very grateful for those things that happened over 30 years."
Earlier today, Ballesteros again denied that he had recently attempted suicide, following a report aired by a Spanish television programme that he had taken an overdose.
He underwent hospital tests recently over a minor heart problem, but said: "I am perfect - doing great.
"I know that a lot of rumours have been out all over the world, all as a consequence of one of the TV channels in Spain. They said things that were not even close to reality.
"I feel great - as good as ever and I want to say that I really appreciate all the people for the phone calls and letters and everything. They were really worried about my health."
Ballesteros became the most successful player in the world at the end of the 1970s and early '80s and helped to foster Europe's current pre-eminence in the Ryder Cup after years of American dominance.
Australian Peter Thomson, the five-times Open winner, paid tribute to Ballesteros as "one of the two most naturally gifted golfers I have ever seen along with Sam Snead".
Thomson said: "I would say that he was the most gifted young player I have come across - his exploits bore that out."
Ballesteros, en uno de los momentos cumbre de su carrera. El capitán de la selección europea recibe la Ryder Cup de manos de la Infanta Elena en presencia de José María Aznar, en 1997.
I don't like golf very much ...
But I did always enjoy watching Seve Play ...
I am going to miss him
One of the best Golfers in History!
Ballesteros was reported to be "gravely ill" and in a Madrid hospital on 10 October 2008. Two days later, he confirmed that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumour. On 15 October, Spanish news agency Efe reported that he had undergone a twelve hour surgery to resect the tumour. A hospital spokeswoman stated that surgeons had removed a sizable part of the tumour. On 23 October, it was confirmed publicly that the tumour was classified as a cancerous oligoastrocytoma, and after a quick deterioration of his health, further surgery took place on 24 October to stabilize him and try to remove the remainder of the tumour. On 24 October, it was confirmed that the tumour was removed after a six and a half hour surgery. On 3 November, it was confirmed by the hospital that he was starting his rehabilitation in the intensive care unit, and was breathing steadily. On 18 November, he was moved out of the intensive care unit and changed wards at Madrid's La Paz Hospital to continue his rehabilitation.
Ballesteros was discharged from hospital on 9 December. He returned home to northern Spain and underwent treatment as an outpatient. In January 2009 a message on his website said he had responded well to one course of chemotherapy.
"I am very motivated and working hard although I am aware that my recovery will be slow and therefore I need to be patient and have a lot of determination. For these reasons I am following strictly all the instructions that the doctors are giving me. Besides, the physiotherapists are doing a great job on me and I feel better every day."
Ballesteros completed a second course of chemotherapy at Madrid's La Paz Hospital in February 2009. Speaking through his website he said, "The results of the check-up were really positive, better even than the first ones." He finished a third round of treatment in March 2009. and completed his fourth and final course of chemotherapy a month later.
In June, Ballesteros made his first public appearance after treatment for a brain tumor. He said it was a "miracle" to be alive and he thanked everyone who had been involved in his care and welfare.
At his first public appearance, Ballesteros announced the launch of the 'Seve Ballesteros Foundation'. This foundation was set up to help those with cancer fight it. The foundation aims to research cancer, especially brain tumours, but it will also help financially challenged young golfers, so they can be as successful as him.
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