Seve Ballesteros: Golfs Greatest Escape Artist

Seve Ballesteros was a living golf legend. That is until his passing this weekend. He was unable to escape from this one last awkward situation. He succumbed to the brain tumor he first had surgery on back in 2008. Succumbed might not be the best way to say that as he fought hard for more than 2 years to beat this thing. He passed fighting.

He was a humble person but a flamboyant golfer. He had "style". A certain way about him the endeared him to everyone. Even through a TV screen you just had to like this guy.

His efforts to bring the European Ryder Cup team to a level where the were competitive with the U.S team remain one of his most significant accomplishments. It is an important part of his legacy. I have always respected him for that in spite of the fact that I am an American. That says something for how special he was.

What I most remember about Seve is his remarkable ability to escape from the worst golf lies. He was very creative and inventive while on the course. He had the kind of imagination it takes to create an escape shot from the most unusual locations and the confidence to execute it. He was remarkable that way.

He won a major by deliberately hitting his ball into a parking lot because it allowed him to play with the wind that day. He birded that hole and won the tournament by the 3 strokes.

At the 1980 Masters during the final round he three putted once, hit in the creek twice and drove his ball onto the 7th green from the 17th tee. Yet he found a way to escape from all that trouble and won that Masters by 4 shots. The man was a magician and the golf club was his wand. He knew how to hit a trouble shot.

In the 1983 in the World Match Play Championship this brilliant escape artist was 2 down with 2 holes to play. His back was seriously against the wall. He won the 17th. Then on the par 5 18th hole he was in a terrible lie just outside of a greenside bunker. His opponent, Arnold Palmer, was on the green safely. Seve could either play it safe and hope to make a putt while his opponent 3 putted or get aggressive. He chose the latter.

Seve plays a low runner that barely clears the lip of the bunker, lands on the green and rolls smartly into the hole. He had tied the match in the most ridiculous manner possible. Of course he won the match on the 3rd playoff hole.

On another occasion Seve displayed his extraordinary escape shot ability. On the final hole of the final round of the European Masters Ballesteros was trailing Barry Lane by one shot. So he had to have birdie for any chance to win. His pushed his tee shot way to the right. He found his ball lying just a few feet from a tall wall about 8 feet high.

He needed to cover the 130 yards between his ball and the green. The wall and some tall trees above it stood between him and the green. A shot to the green seemed impossible to everyone but Seve. Even his caddie was suggesting he should chip out to escape the wall.

But in typical Ballesteros fashion he pushed aside his caddie's advice, selected his sand wedge and proceeded to loft a miraculous escape shot clearing the wall and trees falling just short of the green.

Then, of course, Ballesteros then chipped in for a birdie. What talent!

The list of his spectacular shots could go on and on. The point is that he was a great escape artist. One with style and character. His smile and humility won him many fans including me..

So we must say goodbye to him now.