Adios Seve

Seve has gone to give God a short game lesson. It will include how to get out of the toughest spots and how never to give up. It may include a few hints on how to have flair, passion and a look in your eye that will inspire thousands of young people to want to copy and follow on.I'm sure he will look into the face of the great starter in the sky and say "Gracias". He was the great front man, the charismatic lead singer, the  Elvis that European golf needed all those years ago. He just shone brighter than the others and I can still remember watching him when he came second in the Open at Royal Birkdale at the age of nineteen and thinking this is a special moment. At the time I was fifteen and I wanted nothing else than to play the game I had come to love for a living. Thats what I told me careers teacher Mr Carter, who graciously didn't laugh but sent off for a leaflet on how to become a pro golfer. Jack Nicklaus was the player I aspired to the most, but Seve came along and somehow made it all feel possible, and for a while I followed that dream. However it was not to be my path and music called instead, but we all need heros who allow us to feel these things and give us the reasonable belief that we should try. Seve Ballesteros was the visionary for me. Always able to find the angle, see the shot know one else could see, or at least wouldn't try to hit, but he would and more often than not, carry it off. And he always seemed to have time for the public around him and drew them into his achievements as if he were somehow playing for them.Though he has been missing for a while it's such a tragedy we have lost him this early.'The passion of the matador as a boy with his three iron by the sea'. I choked up as I sang that line for him on Saturday night and I know I will do again in the future when they replay and show again what he was able to gift those who understand and play this ancient game. Adios and thank you.