Ballesteros receives R&A membership
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland --The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews announced Wednesday that Severiano Ballesteros has accepted its invitation to become an honorary member.Ballesteros, who is recuperating from surgery for brain cancer, first caught the attention of the golfing public when, as a 19-year-old, he tied for second place with Jack Nicklaus at the 1976 British Open at Royal Birkdale. He then went on to win five majors from 1979 through 1988 -- three British Opens and two Masters.
“I am greatly honored to accept honorary membership of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews,” he said. “I have had, perhaps, the outstanding moment of my career at St Andrews and the town will always retain a very special place close to my heart. I sincerely hope that I will be able to come back next year and be part of the 150th Anniversary of The Open Championship.”
Ballesteros played for Europe in eight Ryder Cups and captained the European team to victory at Valderrama in 1997. He was also instrumental in creating the biennial Seve Trophy match, now called "the Vivendi Trophy with Severiano Ballesteros," between teams representing Great Britain and Ireland and Continental Europe. He was inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1999.
Earlier this year, Ballesteros launched the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, an organization that aims to aid research into cancer, particularly brain tumours. Simultaneously, the Foundation also assists young, underprivileged golfers to develop their golfing careers.
Ballesteros joins 10 other golf figures as honorary R&A members: Peter Alliss, Tony Jacklin, John Jacobs, Kel Nagle, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Peter Thomson, Lee Trevino, Roberto De Vicenzo and Tom Watson.
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