Lefty to pay Masters tribute to Seve

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February 16, 2011

Phil Mickelson has said he wants to honour Seve Ballesteros with a Spanish dish at this year’s Masters champions dinner.

Phil Mickelson wants to honour Seve Ballesteros with a Spanish dish at this year’s Masters champions dinner at Augusta.
Sadly Ballesteros’ continuing battle with brain cancer will almost certainly prevent him travelling to the event.
He has not been back there since his last competitive appearance in 2007, the year before he collapsed at Madrid Airport and needed life-saving surgery following the discovery of a tumour.
“Our thoughts and prayers are going to be with him that evening,” said the three-time winner, who pushed Lee Westwood into second place last April.
Ballesteros won the title in 1980 and 1983 and Mickelson remembers being inspired as a youngster by watching him play at Augusta on television.
Asked if he was still as excited as ever about returning to the course the 40-year-old said: “Like you can’t believe.
“It reminds me of when I was a kid watching Seve Ballesteros win in 1980 and saying to my mom ‘I want to win that tournament – I want to be like that’.
“It reminds me of dreams that I had as a child. I feel like Augusta National and the Masters tournament gives every kid in the game of golf who dreams of playing professionally and dreams of winning major championships something to strive for and something to dream about.
“When we arrive at Augusta it exceeds our dreams, which is hard to do.”
Mickelson was also asked about Tiger Woods being fined for spitting on a green in Dubai this weekend.
“As a player on the (US) PGA Tour it’s not my position to voice my opinion on the European Tour and its policies.”
“I think the PGA Tour does a pretty good job of explaining, articulating and policing the behaviour of professionals to make sure that it is professional and promotes the game and the image of the game properly.”