The Passing Of A Golf Genius

Ballesteros holding his last
major championship
trophy in 1988.

Known for his incredible yet daredevil play on the golf course, Seve Ballesteros lived his life the same way.

Ballesteros, 54, passed away early Saturday morning in his native Spain, losing a three year battle with a cancerous brian tumor.

His passing does not come as a surprise as Ballesteros struggle with the tumor had been on going. Most notably in October of 2008 when he was rushed to the hospital after losing consciousness at a local airport.

The golf world has lost a legend and arguably the best European golfer of all time.

Ballesteros turned professional at age 16, but really turned heads in 1976. At age 19, Ballesteros finished second in The Open Championship -- the beginning of an illustrious playing career.

Ballesteros would become the first European to earn the coveted green jacket, winning The Masters in 1980. At the time, he would also become the youngest player to win at Augusta National, a record later broken by Tiger Woods. Ballesteros would win one other time at the legendary course in Georgia -- three years later in 1983.

Those would be just two of the five total major championships Ballesteros would take home in his 33-year playing career.

The Spaniard would win The Open Championship three times in a 10-year span, winning in 1979,'84 and '88. Along with his knack for playing well with the pressure at its highest peak, he also represented his country in a big way. Ballesteros was apart of five European Ryder Cup wins, including being the captain for one of those.

Oddly enough that would be the first Ryder Cup held in Europe, and none other than in his native country of Spain. His 50 PGA European Tournament wins are the most all-time with the German, Bernhard Langer, trailing closely with 42.

Ballesteros had also been fantastic in match play, winning five times at the World Match Play Championship. That is tied for the most with the legendary South African, Gary Player.

One of the most charismatic sports figures in recent memory, Ballesteros played the game with passion and grit. His inability to consistently hit the fair way with his tee-shots helped him recreate the game of golf with his unorthodox shot selection. His short game was unlike any other, with the ability to get up and down the golf course from any nook and cranny.

Ballesteros would be inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1999, and while it would be an emotional day for the European at St. Augustine, it wasn't his most. The most emotional day of his career would come nearly a decade later when he announced his retirement from the game of golf in 2007 with a heartfelt press conference prior to the British Open.

He had developed chronic back problems during the ladder part of his career and was the main reason for his retirement.

The World Golf Hall of Fame decided to lower the Spanish Flag half-staff through the weekend and into Monday, honoring of the late Ballesteros the only way they know how. He was truly an ambassador for the sport of golf and there never be another player quite like him.

Adios Seve, te extranaremos.