Spanish master Ballesteros returns to Tour action in Dubai
Dubai, (United Arab Emirates): Former champion Seve Ballesteros, arguably the greatest golfer of his generation, will make an emotional return to the PGA European Tour when he lines up at the 2006 Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club in February.
The winner of 87 titles worldwide – including three Opens and two US Masters – Ballesteros last appeared in Dubai at the 2002 Dubai Desert Classic and has made just one Tour appearance since October 2003 when he lined up at the Madrid Open two months ago.
The Spanish superstar’s greatest days are undoubtedly behind him, but he remains one of the most charismatic figures in the game with a short game no-one has yet equalled.
Back problems may have robbed him of his swashbuckling genius, yet to many golf fans his classic swing and style in the 1980s produced a display of force unmatched until Tiger Woods’ domination almost two decades later.
"At his peak, Seve Ballesteros was powerful, graceful, daring, charismatic and skillful – the Tiger Woods of his era," said Mohamed Buamim, Vice Chairman of Golf in DUBAI (GiD), organisers and promoters of the Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL)-sponsored Dubai Desert Classic.
"And like the current golfing number one, Seve Ballesteros is known throughout the sporting world by just his first name and I am sure we’ll have a great deal of ‘Seve’ fans coming to see the great man play."
In addition to capturing the Open Championship in 1979, 1984 and 1988, as well as the Masters in 1980 and 1983, Ballesteros also played an inspirational role, as captain, in Europe’s retention of The Ryder Cup Match at Valderrama in 1997 and was the first player to reach £1 million, £2 million and £3 million in earnings on the European Tour.
He was a runner up at the 1976 Open as a teenager. Three years later at the age of 22 he was the youngest Open champion of the century. In 1980 he became the first European to win the US Masters and won it again two years later to blaze a trial for a host of Europeans to follow suit.
In the 1983 Ryder Cup he was the leading light as Europe went close to beating the US. Next time it was even better as Europe won in 1985 and then retained it for the first time ever in 1987. His Classic-winning success in Dubai came when he shared the lead after 72 holes with Ronan Rafferty at the Emirates Golf Club in 1994 before going on to win the title after a play-off.
Despite winning his last major when he was 31 some 17 years ago, the name of Seve Ballesteros is still revered throughout the game. The legendary Lee Trevino said of him: "Seve at his best was the best golfer I ever saw. Jack Nicklaus made a plan. Tiger makes a plan. Seve never made a plan, he just made things happen."
Even today’s top stars owe a debt to Ballesteros at his peak. "I remember I was nine and watching on TV when he won the Masters in 1980," said world number three Phil Mickelson.
"As he was strolling up the fairway on the 18th with this big lead, I remember thinking; I want that to be me someday. I loved his game."
Besides DUBAL as the main sponsor of the Desert Classic, CNN International, Emaar, Nakheel, and Samsung as co-sponsors, other sponsors include: Emirates as official airline and Hole In One Sponsor; official caterer, hotel and challenge match sponsor Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa; Official Bank National Bank of Dubai; official courtesy car BMW; and event newspaper Gulf News.
Tickets for the 2006 Dubai Desert Classic can be purchased online from the official website www.dubaidesertclassic.com.
Contact:
Alan Ewens
Tel/Fax (+9714) 3512887
Mobile (+97150) 4514188
e-mail : alan2804@emirates.net.ae
