Seve: ‘It’s important to laugh a lot’

Seve Ballesteros didn’t look like a man who has been batting cancer when he made a rare public appearance in Madrid.
Seve Ballesteros looked anything but a man who has been batting cancer when he made a rare public appearance in Madrid on Friday.
The charismatic Spanish golfing icon, now 53, was all smiles and light-hearted laughter when he opening a symposium on brain tumors supported by his Seve Ballesteros Foundation.
The five-time major winner has been fighting to regain his health following the shock diagnosis that he was suffering with a life-threatening brain tumor after collapsing at the Madrid airport in 2008. He has since undergone a series of operations to remove the tumor followed by chemotherapy and other associated medical procedures.
“I’m very well. Little by little and week by week I notice small improvements. I’m on the road towards normality,” a beaming Ballesteros told the media at the Symposium.
Walking completely unaided and speaking much more clearly than at any of his previous appearances in public, Ballesteros later joined in the question and answer session during which he smilingly quizzed his own doctor.
But mainly he spoke about his recovery programme.
“The key is to have a strong mind, to accept the situation and to beat it,” he said.
“I have been on a very strict diet and have done a lot of exercise. Gym work on Monday, Wednesday and Friday doing weights and stretching.
“I walk two hours a day, I sleep well, rest a lot…and I laugh. It’s important to laugh a lot. Even though we are out of work and suffering with the crisis, laughing doesn’t cost anything.”
Doctor Cristobal Belda, one of the key surgeons who operated on Ballesteros, praised his patient’s attitude.
“Seve is well enough and recovering,” he said. “The work he is doing isn’t something for a few days or months. It’s an enormous effort.
“It is a physical and psychological rehabilitation.”
Latest
-
LPGA Tour
Rose Zhang claims title in play-off on professional debut
Win is first on LPGA Tour on pro debut since Beverly Hanson in 1951.
-
News
Viktor Hovland edges out Denny McCarthy in play-off to win Memorial Tournament
Rory McIlory had to settle for a tie for seventh.
-
European Tour
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin wins first DP World Tour title after fine finish
The 20-year-old finished two shots clear at the Porsche European Open in Hamburg.
-
PGA Tour
Rory McIlroy soars to lead on third day of Ohio Memorial
The Northern Irishman finished tied with two other players on six under par.
-
European Tour
David Law tames the Green Monster course to move into contention in Hamburg
The Scot fired an eagle and eight birdies in a seven-under-par 66, a nine-shot improvement on his opening 75.
-
PGA Tour
Rory McIlroy bounces back to form in the Memorial Tournament
At four under par McIlroy was three shots off the early clubhouse lead.
-
PGA Tour
Matt Wallace one stroke behind lead after first day of PGA Memorial in Ohio
Matt Wallace and Danny Willett are sitting second and equal-third respectively after the first day of the Memorial.
-
Ryder Cup
I don’t think LIV golfers should be on European Ryder Cup team – Rory McIlroy
American players remain eligible despite being banned or resigning from the PGA Tour in the wake of joining the Saudi-funded circuit.
-
European Tour
Brendan Lawlor and Kim Moore excited for next week’s Scandinavian Mixed event
The pair won the men’s and women’s titles at the G4D Open at Woburn earlier this month.
-
PGA Tour
Emiliano Grillo claims second PGA tour title in Texas
It was Emiliano Grillo’s first PGA Tour win in over seven years.