GolfShot for Golf News

When his brother burst onto the world’s golf stage in the mid 70s Manuel was already an experienced professional golfer in his own right and had won in Europe. However the older Ballesteros put his career on hold to help his younger brother Seve start his eventual road to stardom and greatness that end earlier this month after he succumbed to brain cancer at the age of 54.

Manuel, 61, said he had so much more memories of Seve then his nephews, his other brothers and for than matter the entire family. They traveled together, roomed together, and practiced together.

He was with Seve when he won all of his five major tournaments apart from the Masters in 1993. He had the most genius and the most charisma of any player he played with or against. But the tearful brother said he lost a brother not a golf genius and someone he was and always will be proud of.

Jose Maria Olazabal, the Ryder Cup captain, Colin Montgomery the eight time number one in Europe, Graeme McDowell the reigning US Open Champion, Paul Casey, Retief Goosen, Ross Fisher and Justin Rose were some of the player that competed Monday at the Ole Seve’ pro-am. Manuel won twice during his pro career and yesterday paid a very special tribute to Ryder Cup captain and Seve’s former partner, Jose Maria Olazabal.

The golf world bids a fond farewell to a golfing icon as Seve Ballesteros has been laid to rest after succumbing to brain cancer. It would be good advice for Tiger Woods to pause for a bit of quiet reflection with regard to his own legacy.

If you measured greatness in the $1bn plus he has earned in endorsements and earnings and the 14 major titles then you could say Woods was a good rival to Jack Nicklaus as the best golfer of all time, worldwide. But with the passing of Seve we are reminded that there is much more to it than just that.

At 35 Tiger has the possibility of winning at least another five to six Majors. Of course there are always the injury doubts because of the Achilles and knee problems that he has may cause him to have problems in regaining and maintaining his form to be at the top of the world again.

The swing changes he is making with his new coach Sean Foley and the loss of confidence he is going through on the putting green does not bode well for him either. The world will be microscopically focused on Woods this week at the Players Championship often times considered the Fifth Major.

His talent on the course almost stands apart from all the rest that have played with the possible exception of Nicklaus, but that he will never enjoy the love and respect of the public like Seve or even Hagen and Palmer is doubtful. Those two had charisma, one thing that Woods just has never carried in his golf bag.

Woods helped bring golf front and center in the minds of the public. His 1997 Masters win was one for the ages. He helped take golf TV ratings and prize money to the stratosphere. He brought golf into the new century by leaving everyone far back in his wake as he won at Pebble Beach and St. Andrews with ease in 2000.

Woods needs to now open up and engage the world as an equal or else he will forever be an enigma.