Comments on: The Significance of Seve http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_significance_of_seve Golf News, Reviews, and Commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:22:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: JP http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_significance_of_seve#comment-14207 JP Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:28:29 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_significance_of_seve#comment-14207 A piece on Seve from Jaime Diaz about a year or two ago was fascinating to read. When you read about Lee Trevino, often many of the same adjectives used to describe Seve are applied to Lee: creative, a wizard, brilliantly intuitive player, fearless competitor. In the Diaz piece, Trevino said (paraphrasing) "I could outwork him, but I never, ever had anything close to his talent level." What I hope we can remember always about Ballesteros is that: maybe the greatest natural talent ever. It didn't last as long as some of us might have liked, and he may have given a few away out of sloppiness or mental errors, but as far as controlling a golf ball, we may never see anyone like him. It sounds silly not to rank Tiger as the best in everything when it comes to golf, but if there is any player in history who could be argued to have more talent than Tiger, it would be Seve. We should celebrate him and his life, now, as much as possible; we won't have him much longer. A piece on Seve from Jaime Diaz about a year or two ago was fascinating to read. When you read about Lee Trevino, often many of the same adjectives used to describe Seve are applied to Lee: creative, a wizard, brilliantly intuitive player, fearless competitor. In the Diaz piece, Trevino said (paraphrasing) "I could outwork him, but I never, ever had anything close to his talent level."

What I hope we can remember always about Ballesteros is that: maybe the greatest natural talent ever. It didn't last as long as some of us might have liked, and he may have given a few away out of sloppiness or mental errors, but as far as controlling a golf ball, we may never see anyone like him.

It sounds silly not to rank Tiger as the best in everything when it comes to golf, but if there is any player in history who could be argued to have more talent than Tiger, it would be Seve.

We should celebrate him and his life, now, as much as possible; we won't have him much longer.

]]> By: Paul http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_significance_of_seve#comment-13979 Paul Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:37:52 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_significance_of_seve#comment-13979 Superb post. I agree with Ovidiov. It is a shame that he is not actually revered as a national hero in his own country. In Britain he seen as a 'Golfing God'. If it wasn't for Seve the European Tour would still be operating in the dark ages. My thoughts are with him and his family. Superb post.
I agree with Ovidiov.
It is a shame that he is not actually revered as a national hero in his own country. In Britain he seen as a 'Golfing God'. If it wasn't for Seve the European Tour would still be operating in the dark ages.
My thoughts are with him and his family.

]]> By: O'Caillaigh http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_significance_of_seve#comment-13965 O'Caillaigh Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:47:23 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_significance_of_seve#comment-13965 Great posts! I know you are true golf fans to appreciate this man's unique greatness. Great posts!

I know you are true golf fans to appreciate this man's unique greatness.

]]> By: Kumabjorn http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_significance_of_seve#comment-13956 Kumabjorn Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:35:19 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_significance_of_seve#comment-13956 To me, Seve has always been Europe's Walter Hagen, rather than Arnie. He certainly always had a few bad shots in a round (Sir Walter expected them) but as often he would make a remarkable recovery, and often with the same swashbuckling attitude presented by Hagen. Walter Hagen was also spearheading the public's changing attitude towards professional golfers, Seve did that as well, albeit on a different level. Before Seve, European golfers were grudgingly accepting that Europe had become a second rate continent compared to US pros. In Walter's days the opposite was true, Vardon, Braid, Taylor and Ted Ray dominated tournament golf, but by winning the Open Championship, a paradigm shift towards the US became self-evident. When Ballesteros won the Masters, he showed that European golfers could win the one major that had alluded them so far. Severiano Ballesteros did for European golf what Walter Hagen did for American golf. For that his legacy will be as everlasting as the Haig's is. To me, Seve has always been Europe's Walter Hagen, rather than Arnie. He certainly always had a few bad shots in a round (Sir Walter expected them) but as often he would make a remarkable recovery, and often with the same swashbuckling attitude presented by Hagen. Walter Hagen was also spearheading the public's changing attitude towards professional golfers, Seve did that as well, albeit on a different level. Before Seve, European golfers were grudgingly accepting that Europe had become a second rate continent compared to US pros. In Walter's days the opposite was true, Vardon, Braid, Taylor and Ted Ray dominated tournament golf, but by winning the Open Championship, a paradigm shift towards the US became self-evident. When Ballesteros won the Masters, he showed that European golfers could win the one major that had alluded them so far. Severiano Ballesteros did for European golf what Walter Hagen did for American golf. For that his legacy will be as everlasting as the Haig's is.

]]> By: ovidiov http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_significance_of_seve#comment-13934 ovidiov Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:53:24 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_significance_of_seve#comment-13934 What a great post!!! Like spaniard I can tell you, that Seve shown us what is golf about!!! To me Seve is a hero, no doubt about it!! but I am a golfer, and there is not so many people that follows golf in Spain, actually I think Seve is more often seen as a hero in England than in Spain... What a great post!!! Like spaniard I can tell you, that Seve shown us what is golf about!!!
To me Seve is a hero, no doubt about it!! but I am a golfer, and there is not so many people that follows golf in Spain, actually I think Seve is more often seen as a hero in England than in Spain...

]]> By: misty_mountainhop http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_significance_of_seve#comment-13920 misty_mountainhop Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:08:59 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_significance_of_seve#comment-13920 A good article of the great man. I grew up through the late 70s/early 80s as a junior learning to love the game and Seve was a real trailblazer. I have many good memories of late nights watching the final holes from Augusta and Seve has a lot to do with my long term addiction to the game. His Ryder cup legacy from a European perspective is immense and he's one of the reasons why the competition is just that; a true competition again instead of a regular, biennial walkover for the U.S.A. He was well known for outrageous shots, recoveries, skill and a wonderful putting touch. He was the first to attempt the drive of the green on the 10th at the Belfry, usually with an outrageous twirl to finish his follow-through. I remember him being dormy 1 down to Arnold Palmer in the World Matchplay at Wentworth - Arnie is on the green in 2 at the 18th, Seve hits a tree ~80 yards short of the green; Seve gets a short iron out and hits a pitch and run straight into the hole for an eagle; Arnie 2 putts, all square and Seve wins the match in a extra holes. In a modern world that too often uses the word "great" to describe all and sundry, Seve is exactly that; truly great. Best wishes for an eventual recovery. A good article of the great man. I grew up through the late 70s/early 80s as a junior learning to love the game and Seve was a real trailblazer. I have many good memories of late nights watching the final holes from Augusta and Seve has a lot to do with my long term addiction to the game.

His Ryder cup legacy from a European perspective is immense and he's one of the reasons why the competition is just that; a true competition again instead of a regular, biennial walkover for the U.S.A.

He was well known for outrageous shots, recoveries, skill and a wonderful putting touch. He was the first to attempt the drive of the green on the 10th at the Belfry, usually with an outrageous twirl to finish his follow-through. I remember him being dormy 1 down to Arnold Palmer in the World Matchplay at Wentworth - Arnie is on the green in 2 at the 18th, Seve hits a tree ~80 yards short of the green; Seve gets a short iron out and hits a pitch and run straight into the hole for an eagle; Arnie 2 putts, all square and Seve wins the match in a extra holes.

In a modern world that too often uses the word "great" to describe all and sundry, Seve is exactly that; truly great. Best wishes for an eventual recovery.

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