Residence : Pedrena, Spain
Birth Date : 9^th April 1957
Turned Professional : 1974
Interests : Cycling, Fishing, Gardening

Ryder Cup History : (5-4) 1997 (Captain, winners), 1995 (winners), 1993, 1991, 1989, 1987 (winners), 1985 (winners), 1979
Royal Trophy : (1-0) 2006 (winners)

Honors :
Five-time Major Champion: The Open Championship (1988, 1984, 1979), The Masters (1983, 1980)
Six-time European Tour Order of Merit No.1: 1991, 1988, 1986, 1978, 1977, 1976
Sixteen Top 10 Finishes on the European Tour Order of Merit: 1994, 1991, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1978, 1977, and 1976.
Winner: of over 87 professional tournaments throughout the globe

Awards :
World Golf Hall of Fame member
European Player of the Century
Spanish Sportsman of the Century

Captain’s Profile :

One of the most prolific and victorious golfers ever to play the game, Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros has dazzled crowds and amassed victories throughout the globe. Fellow golfers describe the Spaniard as powerful, skillful, graceful, daring, charismatic, eagle-eyed and even a prodigy, mystery and savant. Regardless, the Arnold Palmer of Europe is a champion’s champion.

Raised in a family of golfers, of which his three brothers became professionals, seven-year-old Ballesteros used a cut-down 3-iron and putted on white Spanish beaches to learn the game. At 13, he shot his first round of 65 and three years later landed on the professional tour. His 1976 debut at the British Open belongs in golfing folklore as the teenager chased the world’s No.1 player Johnny Miller to finish in second place.

The six-time Major champion and European Player of the Century is known for his precise and courageous play from the trees rather than the tees. In his 1979 British Open victory, Ballesteros made birdie after playing from a parking lot. During one stretch of the previous year, the Hall of Famer won six consecutive weeks on three separate continents. The late 70’s provided only a glimpse of the Spaniard’s capabilities.

Ballesteros won again at the British Open at St. Andrews in 1984 though it was his victory at Augusta National in 1983 that allowed him to surpass Tom Watson as the best player in the world. Three years earlier, the Spaniard had become the first European to win at Augusta. A trailblazer, Ballesteros was also the first player to reach one million pounds, two million pounds and three million pounds on the European Tour.

But golf’s Elvis is perhaps best known for his severe allegiance to Ryder Cup play (won 20 points from 37 matches). The Ryder Cup format changed to invite all Europeans to join in the opposition of the Americans and as legend has it, the European side rested on the shoulders of Ballesteros nine times. Ballesteros led the Europeans to victory in four of those times including as Captain in 1997 at Valderrama.

One of golf’s greatest and most charismatic players and one of the game’s greatest and most inspirational captains leads a talented European side against a new foe, the up-and-coming superpower of golf, Asia. Though a win for Europe is a win for Ballesteros, as the driving force for the creation of this fantastic competition the Royal Trophy may ultimately be one of Ballesteros’ greatest gifts.