Seve: The Autobiography

by Severiano Ballesteros

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.

Severiano Ballesteros was perhaps the most naturally gifted golfer ever to have walked a fairway. From the moment his brother Manuel gave him his first club he was unstoppable. A few weeks before his seventeenth birthday he turned pro. Five years later he won the Open. A genius had arrived.

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

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

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

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

Genres: Autobiography

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2007

About the author

1957 – 7 May 2011) was a Spanish professional golfer, a World No. 1 who was one of the sport's leading figures from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s. He gained attention in the golfing world in 1976, when at the age of 19 he finished second at the The Open Championship (British Open). A member of a gifted golfing family, Ballesteros won five major championships between 1979 and 1988, the Open Championship three times, and the Masters Tournament twice. He was also successful in the Ryder Cup, helping the European team to five wins both as a player and captain, and won the World Match Play Championship a record-tying five times. He is best known for his great short game, and his erratic driving of the golf ball. He is generally regarded as the greatest Spanish golfer of all time.

Because of back-related injuries, Ballesteros struggled with form during the 1990s. In spite of this, he continued to be involved in the game of golf, creating the Seve Trophy and running a golf course design business. Ballesteros eventually retired from competitive golf in 2007 because of continued poor form, and in 2008 was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. After reports that Ballesteros would make a return to the spotlight at the 2010 Open Championship, following the advice of doctors he did not travel to St Andrews in 2010 for the Open Championship.

Ballesteros was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for the second time at the BBC Sports Personality Awards 2009. He was presented with the award at his home in Spain by his friend, compatriot and former Ryder Cup team-mate José María Olazábal. Ballesteros died of brain cancer on 7 May 2011, aged 54.

Rest in Peace Seve. A true gentleman.

--Wikipedia -- the Free Encyclopedia

Reviews

[Graham McNamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had the good fortune to pick this book up in a charity shop for £1. Great autobiography told from the heart by the player who almost singlehandedly made the Ryder Cup become one of the greatest contest in world sport
Almost tragically in chapter 50 he writes about how he looks forward to his future life that was tragically cut short.
Quite simply a golfing genius who sits comfortably with the other all time golfing greats as legends of game who are etched in history

[Alan Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent, but not a great autobiography of a modern sporting icon.
The book was published before Seve's brain haemorrhage. I was hoping to read his thoughts on his subsequent recovery attempt and in particular the frustration that he must have felt, as he would be unable to control the situation in the manner he is used to. Perhaps that is the subject of a different book?

During the early chapters I found myself switching between admiration for an extremely dedicated and single minded sportsman and an element of loathing of a very arrogant man. It depends on your personal view (and maybe how competitive you are). Regardless, it is clear the he was his own man and didn't tolerate fools (or those that he saw as fools!). His many brushes with authority are well documented.

His self belief (or arrogance?) is incredible. For example, in Chapter 21 he explains what a great influence he is on other golfers and in Chapter 25 he describes an altercation with an official and the fact that he has the upper hand because "he is the star of the tournament".

I was slightly disappointed in his lack of respect for some other players, particularly some very experienced individuals. There is an interesting paragraph on page 87 where it looks suspiciously like someone has inserted some kind words on Tom Watson. They seem very out of place.

In my opinion, there are too many chapters on the Ryder Cup - including coverage of a few where Seve wasn't involved and too few on the latter part of his career.

It is very amusing that he refers to his practice as "training".

In summary, it's a very good insight into a player who climbed to the very top of his sport from very humble beginnings. It also captures the dedication and sacrifices and the frustration when the player is no longer able to compete at the top level.

[Marta · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wouldn't say that I enjoyed reading this book. I suppose part of it is that I'm not a golfer. Putting golf aside, I'm not sure I learnt much about Seve. I was surprised to see how "conflict prone" he was and not very gracious with these who didn't follow his way. the book is a bit mechanically structured with no natural flow of events and experiences. I suppose we can get a picture of his golfing skills development, particularly in the early age. But there isn't much information about his emotional and personal development. Instead we can see a very stubborn and determined person, I would imagine a very difficult one to work and live with.
There is no mention about his cancer struggle, even in the note that his brother added as part of the ending. It would be so much more personal to see him respond to such tragedy.

[David Macfarlane · Rating 2 out of 5]

A legend and icon with a remarkable career, but unfortunately this book is structurally all over the place! No natural flow, for example, it chronologically jumps from winning the Masters one year, followed by a chapter about playing in a tournament three years before! I have a keen interest in the career of Seve but didn't really enjoy reading this at all.

[Gareth Davies · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was interesting to read about a legend like Seve, one of golf’s best ever players. Unfortunately the book kept jumping around in time which made it confusing and also, like many top sportsmen, seemed a bit of a diva falling out with many people

[Neil Cake · Rating 2 out of 5]

What starts out as an interesting account of Seve's early life and a bit of social comment soon falls into that familiar golf biography trap of, "I scored a 69 in the first round, with 4 birdies, followed by a 72 in the final round, to leave me 4 shots of the lead..." Booooooring. Sorry. It just is.

Then, after quite a bit of that, you get accounts of Seve's many disagreements with the golfing authorities (among other people). And in every encounter Seve can only see things from his own perspective - though he is nice about other golfers, even when he's been slagging them off for a while - Paul Azinger, for example. Ultimately, it all leaves Seve looking self-righteous and egotistical. I respect that he was the best golfer in the world for a while, and an inspirational and important figure to many and to golf in general, but a little perspective and humility wouldn't go amiss. He seems to think everything should go his way, and if it doesn't, its because of some conspiracy theory - like the Ryder Cup that he helped campaign to be hosted in Spain. Yes Seve, I appreciate how much effort you put into campaigning, but this doesn't mean that it has to be held on the new course that you are designing - or failing that one, another course that you've already designed. I appreciate that you won't make any money by having the tournament held at one of your courses, but you have to accept that it wouldn't do your professional reputation any harm, would it?

Later he describes how he was Ryder Cup captain. He decides early on that he isn't going to organise as many social events as would usually be the case, because it's too much work. Then he decides the captain should be paid a fee for the duties - but no one else should. It's one rule for Seve, one rule for everyone else. None of the other captains got paid Seve, and you've already admitted that you were doing less work than them! Christ.

I was hoping there was going to be some real golfing wisdom in here, but aside from one or two interesting comments, it was as poor as so many other sporting biographies. More so, in fact. I don't care Seve, how many famous people, and how many royals you've met. I just - it was really uninteresting, ok? Soz.

[Walter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seve is one of the greats: a great golfer, and a great artist.
He grew up learning how to play golf in his own way: hitting pebbles on the beach and in the dark with only his own sense of feeling to guide, and that my friends…is the only way to play.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Rest in peace, Seve.

[Angus Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Makes you say ‘que’?