Seve: The Autobiography

Now the subject of a major film.

Once or twice a generation, an athlete transcends his sport - at last, here's Seve Ballesteros in his own words

There are golfers, and there are golfers. And then there's Seve.

SeverianoBallesteros was perhaps the most naturally gifted golfer ever to havewalked a fairway. From the moment his brother Manuel gave him his firstclub he was unstoppable. A few weeks before his seventeenth birthday heturned pro. Five years later he won the Open. A genius had arrived.

Forthe best part of two decades Seve dominated the golfing landscape. Heplayed shots others could only dream of. With 94 wins as a professional(including 5 majors) he was a phenomenon, an athlete who transcended hissport.

But Seve stood for more than simple excellence. Almostsingle-handedly, Seve gave European golf credibility; almostsingle-handedly, he made the Ryder Cup one of the greatest contests inworld sport. And when, as captain, he finally lifted the trophy on homesoil in 1997, a whole continent rejoiced. His pride and passion haveinspired millions, and we have taken him to our hearts.

Here,for the first time, Seve tells his own story. From his humble beginningsright up to the present day, here at last is the man behind the magicin his own words. Seve is utterly entertaining, blazingly charismatic and unique.

Severiano "Seve" Ballesteros Sota was a Spanish professional golfer and aleading sports figure. He won more than 90 international tournaments inan illustrious career. He first caught the attention of the sportingworld in 1976, when at the age of 19 he finished second at The Open. Heplayed a leading role in the re-emergence of European golf, helping theEuropean Ryder Cup team to five wins both as a player and captain. Hewon the World Match Play Championship a record-tying five times. He isgenerally regarded as the greatest Continental European golfer of alltime and won a record 50 times on the European Tour.
Ballesteros died of brain cancer on 7 May 2011, aged 54.