Golf great Seve Ballesteros dies at 54

Seve Ballesteros, the swashbuckling Spanaird whose talent and charisma drove the popularity of today's European Tour and the modern Ryder Cup, died yesterday at home in Pedrena, Spain, from complications of brain cancer. He was 54.

Ballesteros won three British Opens, two Masters tournaments, 50 European Tour events and at least 90 tournaments world wide. More importantly, he captured the imagination of millions of fans and thousands of young players who aspired to be just like him.

He made up for his often wild long game with the most creative short game of all time. He hit shots from the trees and off his knees. His wizardry from sand bunkers was uncanny, and his ability to create a shot out what seemed to be an impossible situation earned him the ever lasting admiration of his peers.

"He had a real impact on me and on my life in this sport," five-time major champion Nick Faldo said in a statement. "He was a leader; bringing the spotlight to the European Tour, paving the way to European success at the Masters and bringing his relentless passion to the Ryder Cup. Today I would call him Cirque du Soleil. For golf, he was the greatest show on earth."

"Today, golf lost a great champion and a great friend. We also lost a great entertainer and ambassador for our sport," said Jack Nicklaus, golf's greatest champion, in a statement. "No matter the golf that particular day, you always knew you were going to be entertained. Seve's enthusiasm was just unmatched by anybody I think that ever played the game."

On Oct. 6, 2008, Ballesteros fainted as he was about to board a plane in Madrid. Tests showed that he had a malignant tumor the size of two golf balls above his right temple. He underwent four surgeries and several chemotherapies and radiation treatments. He managed a few public appearances in 2009, but after he fell off a golf cart in March of 2010 and hit his head, he was seldom seen.

Severiano Ballesteros was born April 7, 1957 in Pedrena, Spain, one of four brothers. His father was a dairy farmer and renowned rower. An uncle was a championship player in Spain. Ballesteros started caddying at the Pedrena Golf Club at age 10, and the game immediately grabbed his attention. Since caddies were not allowed to play the course, Ballesteros would practice on the seaside beach of Pedrena, hitting all sorts of shots with only a 3-iron.

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Ballesteros, at 19, became a sensation at the 1976 British Open, finishing second to Johnny Miller. He won his first British Open in 1979. It was his second British Open title in 1984 at St. Andrews that forever defined his image. There he made a birdie putt on the 18th to win it, then pumped his right fist several times while flashing his electric smile.

He won the Masters in 1980 and 1983, and won his last British Open in 1988 in a memorable duel with Nick Price. His game went into decline in the 1990s, a bad back exacerbating his wild swing tendencies so much that not even his magical short game could save him. He won his last tournament in 1995, the Spanish Open.

Coincidentally, the Spanish Open is being played this week in Barcelona, and players wore black arm bands in tribute to him, many of them moved to tears by his death.

Jose Maria Olazabal, a countryman who was inspired by Ballesteros and who combined with him as the greatest Ryder Cup partnership of all time, saw Ballesteros two weeks ago. Olazabal, playing at Barcelona this week, said Ballesteros was weak but lucid.

Ballesteros and his wife Carmen divorced in 2004. They had three children together. The funeral will be Wednesday in Pedrena

The Associated Press contributed to this story.