PUBLISHED : 17 Jun 2026 at 01:01
This week in ‘Paths Crossed’ I reflect on a meeting from many years ago when I met Seve Ballesteros for the first time. He was still a teenager and on the verge of beginning his wonderful career. It was in the unlikely surroundings of the Venice Lido Golf Club where he was taking part in a series of matches against Lee Trevino.
He was taught a golfing lesson by Trevino that day, losing heavily, due mainly to Mr Trevino coming home in 29. Soon after this match he finished second to Johnny Miller in the 1976 Open at Royal Birkdale. I came away from watching him play, completely jealous of his looks, physique and the way he addressed the ball, which was like he had come out of the womb ready-made and put together perfectly just to play golf. This naturalness when setting up to the ball was even more apparent when he putted.
The next time I met him was in Thailand when he captained a European team at an event called The Royal Trophy at Amata Spring Country Club in a Ryder Cup-style match against an Asian team. Although he was still suffering from his illness, he mustered a warm smile. However, he no longer looked like the young man I first saw in Venice. I could barely find the words, except to tell him he was my hero and to shake once more the hand of this great golfer.
Out of Bounds: Space would run out quickly to list every one of Severiano’s achievements but here’s a summary: Three British Open wins, two Masters and 50 European Tour successes (an all-time record), nine wins on the PGA Tour, six on the Japan Tour, two on the Australasian Tour and 28 ‘other’ wins. He finished fifth in the PGA Championship and achieved a third in the US Open. His Ryder Cup achievements are legendary and the honours he’s received are just too numerous to mention.