"This is the difficult thing, when you see that the end is coming."

Oliver Brown files a heartwrenching must read story on his visit with Seve Ballesteros.

It is heartbreaking that it shall not now come to pass. Ballesteros, barely out of his hospital bed, was first attracted to the notion of a St Andrews comeback last July, when he watched Tom Watson revive days of yore at Turnberry. He could scarcely credit that his former nemesis came within one errant eight-footer of winning a sixth Open, aged 59.

"I feel very sorry about that missed putt for Tom. For me, the champion of that Open was Tom. He did everything to win, but golf is an unpredictable game. He was a great inspiration to me. That was when I thought about going to St Andrews. He brought me that desire and determination.

"St Andrews, you see, is unique: the road hole, Hell Bunker, the museum, the hotel, the shops in the town where everybody is selling golf – all of it. I want to spend time with the people there. They want to see me, and I want to see them. It's an appreciation."

Comments

[Tommy Naccarato]

And to think that this GREAT Champion was being called a petulant loser a few posts ago....

Just a complete heart-wrenching story. the most important thing is the positive outlook. I hope I'm that way when its time to go.

[Bill Long]

A major indication of brain damage - either from trauma or surgery - is
emotional lability and diminished impulse control. It's very sad that his
immediate family felt the need to distance themselves.

[PABOY]

I had hoped Seve would be well enough just to travel to the old course and sit on the first tee and 18th green and get the adulation from his peers and the gallery that he richly deserves.

Who really wants to see this man play when so ill but he deserved the homecoming experience.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

It would have been fantastic to see him at St. Andrews, even just sitting in a cart. Vaya con dios, Seve.

[Peter Norrie]

It's only 5 years until the next Open at St Andrews - let's hope he's able to be there.

[sir real]

It's really almost criminal that Seve won't be at St Andrew's this year. If ever a player,even with his bravado and occasional pouts, defined what the game is at its core...he personifies it!
I for one, hope he can regain his strength and health. Even if he can no longer tee it and play to a high level, his vitality and aura alone can contribute much to a sport longing for his type of flair!

[Steven T.]

By: Rabbi Alvin I. Fine


Birth is a beginning
and death a destination
And life is a journey:
From childhood to maturity
and youth to age;
From innocence to awareness
and ignorance to knowing;
From foolishness to desecration
and then perhaps to wisdom.
From weakness to strength or
from strength to weakness
and often back again;
From health to sickness
and we pray to health again.
From offense to forgiveness
from loneliness to love
from joy to gratitude
from pain to compassion
from grief to understanding
from fear to faith.
From defeat to defeat to defeat
until looking backwards or ahead
We see that victory lies not
at some high point along the way
but in having made the journey
step by step
a sacred pilgrimage.
Birth is a beginning
and death a destination
And life is a journey;
A sacred journey to life everlasting

[taffy]

I, now 24 yrs older and with the benefit of hindsight, am ashamed that I was excited (glad) when Seve fatted a 4 iron into the pond on 15 at the 1986 Masters. Now when I watch that video (which I have kept all these years) I see a man of unbelieveable grace and class playing out those last holes when lesser men would have behaved poorly.
I, for one, was looking forward to seeing him at St. Andrews. Sad that he won't be there. I hope he continues to improve.