Five time Major Champion Seve Ballesteros has announced his retirement from golf during an emotion-fuelled press conference at Carnoustie, the site of this week’s Open Championship.
The venue could not have been more appropriate for the 50 year old Spaniard who began his illustrious Open Championship career at the Scottish venue in 1975 before triumphing at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1979, St Andrews in 1984 and at Royal Lytham again in 1988.
George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, led the tributes to Ballesteros, saying: “What a privilege it has been to witness the phenomenal career of Severiano Ballesteros. He is quite probably the most iconic golfer of our era and without question he inspired millions around the world to play the game.
“The European Tour would not be where it is today without Seve’s outstanding contribution as a player and, of course, as a team member and captain of our Ryder Cup Team. We wish him every success as he starts the next chapter of his life and we look forward to continuing to support him.”
Below is an extract from the Press Conference as Seve said goodbye to golf in his own words.
“Good afternoon everybody and thank you to everyone for being here. Obviously it could have been very easy for me to send a press release and to stay home, but because I have my respect for you people, so I thought it was better to come here and speak to you all face to face.
“First I'd like to say thank you to Peter Dawson for allowing me to use the media centre facilities for The Open Championship, the best tournament in the world, in my opinion.
“The reason I say that is because I want to say something which is very important for me. For a few months there was something confused inside of me. There was a fight, an internal fight. My head said I think you should retire. I kept saying that over and over, but my heart was keeping telling me that I would be better to continue playing and compete. So it was difficult for quite a while. But finally I decided this year to go and try in the Champions Tour.
“So I went there, the weather was nice, but I only played one tournament and I came back. So that really made me think very deeply and to really question, either you continue or you stop playing. And I made probably the most difficult decision of my career as a player, and I decided to retire.
“I have to say that golf gave me so much over the years that it's really hard to give back, even 25 per cent of how much I got. It really gave me not only the pleasure of competing and enjoying the competition and feel the glory of winning, it give me the chance of travelling around the world, meeting people through dinners, cocktails and playing in pro ams, and it give me the great feeling of the people who really show me the understanding and the appreciation of what I have done in the game of golf.
“Obviously I feel very, very lucky, personally, and I'm very, very grateful for these things that really happened over those 30 years. I also want to make one remark, that whenever I said or I did something that hurt somebody else’s feelings or whatever, I apologise.
“The people from the United Kingdom, they really were fantastic every time. They were great. There was kind of a good feeling between them and I. There was a good connection. There was a good chemistry. They really supported me all the way and this is one thing that I will never forget. I say that many times and I wanted to say it one more time. Most of the tournaments that I won it was thanks to them, because they really supported me very much and I felt very grateful for that. So thank you very much.
“Obviously to you people, the media, you really put my name over and over in the headlines and articles all over the world. Thanks to you, you made me look big and that was very nice and my sincere appreciation to you all, also.
“To the players that I had the privilege and honour to play with, whether it was in match play and medal play or side by side in The Ryder Cup, that was fantastic. That was great and I have great memories for that. I really appreciate that.
“I want to mention also the sponsors over those 30 years, The European Tour, you people, again, the journalists, and the referees, my sincere appreciation, also. You were nice to me.
“I want to make one important remark that there were some rumours (concerning my health) around the last week or so that were not even close to reality, as you can see that. I feel great, great. But sometimes those things happen. It's all behind me.
“And I want to thank the people who really worry about me, they send me letters, they send me phone calls and e mails, faxes and everything. And that really made me feel good, because I know I knew before, also, but I found out again one more time that they care about me. I appreciate that and thank you very much everyone. That was very nice. Once more, I'm great - I'm feeling great. Thank you again.
“My professional life from now on, it will be different. I will probably concentrate and focus on my companies, Trajectory, the company that designs golf courses. This is one thing that I enjoy very much. And then with Amen Corner, the company that organises the Royal Trophy and Seve Trophy and other events to help The European Tour. Also I have a new company that is going to be on in 2008, it's called Motivational Training. So I will try to use my experience with a bunch of people that set up a team to help people to find out the best way to achieve whatever goals they have. I think it's something that is going to be very interesting and I'm looking forward to do that.
“Obviously my priorities now will be my children, my family and my friends and my companies.
“I will continue to play golf on a friendly basis with my kids. Baldomero, my eldest son, is a scratch golfer and Miguel is a three handicap. Three weeks ago I convinced my girl, Carmen, to play. So, yeah, that's my intention. Who knows, maybe one day I'll caddie with one of them or both and become the manager or the assistant or whatever, one day when they come to the media centre.”
Favourite memories
“I remember Royal Birkdale. Carnoustie was my first British Open in 1975 but I was injured. Three days before I cut my right foot and I was limping and I missed the cut. So I don't really have that kind of a good memory because of that. But obviously I remember very well Royal Birkdale in 1976 when I was with my brother, Manuel, and I caddied for him in the pre-qualifier.
“And then when I shot 69 the first day, they said, "Manuel, Manuel, congratulations, 69." He said, "No, it's not me, it's my brother." "Who is your brother?” they asked. "The guy sitting over there,” he said, "This is your brother? I thought that was your caddie!" "Yeah, he's my brother, but he's a really good player,” he said. So that was a good memory.
“And obviously when I won at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 1979 my three brothers were there. That was a very emotional moment, when I crossed the green and they hugged me. That was fantastic.
“And 1984 at St Andrews, that was great, on the 18th green, when I holed that putt and punched the air. That was great.
“Again in 1988 when I played with Nick Price and Nick Faldo, it was fantastic. I think that was a great round there. I have great memories. I have great memories from The Open. I hit so many good shots and so many good things that happened that it's hard to describe how good I feel.”
The Ryder Cup
“When I first started going to The Ryder Cup that was 1979 at the Greenbrier, and that time I didn't really know very much what the Ryder Cup meant. But when I played in 1983 at Palm Beach, that was the first time that we, the Europeans, had a chance to beat the Americans, then I realised how important was that.
“And from there on I really appreciated being on the Team and it was fantastic and the competition was growing over and over. I have tremendous memories. From the first time when I played with Antonio Garrido, and then with Paul Way, and of course great memories with José Maria Olazábal.
“The toughness of the competition, that was great. I enjoyed all that. And I think through the Ryder Cup The European Tour became bigger and golf in general all over Europe and I am sure it helped the growth in the United States and all over the world. So it was great.”
Goodbye?
“However, this is definitely not a real goodbye, this is a ‘I'll see you later’, because I will continue to be involved with the game that gave me so much over the years.
“This is very much what I wanted to say to you all and once more, from my heart, thank you to you all for what you have done over the years and thank you to the British people for their support. Thank you very much.”
