Ballesteros’s health deteriorating

• Spaniard’s family releases a statement on his website • Ballesteros had surgery on a brain tumour in 2008 The family of the golfing legend Seve Ballesteros has reported a “severe deterioration” in the 54-year-old’s health in his continuing battle against cancer. Ballesteros has been receiving medical treatment since 2008, when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Since then, the five-times major winner has undergone four operations and chemotherapy. The family’s statement, issued on Friday via Ballesteros’s website , said: “The family of Seve Ballesteros can report a severe deterioration in his neurological condition. The family will provide information on his state of health when more news becomes available.” Ballesteros, who announced his retirement from golf in 2007, collapsed at Madrid airport in October 2008 and two days later came confirmation that he had a brain tumour. He underwent an initial 12-hour operation, but further surgery was necessary before he was well enough to return home and begin chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. “I am very motivated and working hard, although I am aware that my recovery will be slow and therefore I need to be patient and have a lot of determination,” he said at the time. “For these reasons I am following strictly all the instructions that the doctors are giving me. Besides, the physiotherapists are doing a great job on me and I feel better every day.” After a second course of chemotherapy at Madrid’s La Paz hospital in February 2009 he said on his website: “The results of the check-up were really positive, better even than the first ones.” In December 2009 he appeared on television to receive the BBC’s lifetime achievement award at the Sports Personality of the Year event. He won the Open three times, the Masters twice and played an inspirational role in the Ryder Cup, helping Europe to lift the trophy in 1985, 1987, 1989 and 1995 before captaining them to another victory at Valderrama two years later. Ballesteros turned professional in 1974 at the age of 16 and made his first huge impact two years later by finishing second in the Open alongside Jack Nicklaus at Royal Birkdale. His first major title came in the 1979 Open at Royal Lytham; he then became Masters champion in 1980 and 1983 and lifted the Claret Jug again at St Andrews in 1984 – perhaps his greatest moment – and back at Lytham in 1988. After a total of 87 tournament wins, his retirement came following years of battling arthritic back and knee problems. He was planning a farewell appearance for British fans at last year’s Open at St Andrews – not in the main event, but in the four-hole Champions’ Challenge – but was not well enough to travel. Only last month Phil Mickelson decided on a Spanish menu for the champions’ dinner at the Masters in Augusta in honour of Ballesteros. Seve Ballesteros Golf Ewan Murray guardian.co.uk

Posted by on May 6, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.