Friday, May 13, 2011

1,000 Mourners Pay Final Tribute to Seve Ballesteros

THEY GATHERED IN AND AROUND the church in Pedrena, a small fishing village in northern Spain. Among them were four European Ryder Cup captains: Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance and Jose Maria Olazabal. Fellow Spanish golfer Miguel Angel Jimenez, somber and eyes hidden behind dark glasses on the overcast day, was also in attendance.

Seve’s ashes were carried by his eldest son in an urn, to be spread beneath a magnolia tree at the family home in a private ceremony. Yet Europe’s greatest golfer was still very much alive in the memories and hearts of those who attended the funeral. Children wore Seve-like navy blue outfits and clutched 3-irons, Seve’s lone club when he took up the game as a boy.

“With hard work he went from nothing to everything,” said Seve’s nephew Ivan Ballesteros, “realizing his dream to be the best and to be in the heart of the people.

“Rest my friend, rest Seve.”

−The Armchair Golfer

Photo slide show of Seve Ballesteros’s Funeral

No comments:

Post a Comment