On This Day: Seve Ballesteros’ remarkable career in numbers

Golfing great Seve Ballesteros was born on this day in 1957.
Here, the PA news agency looks at the key numbers in the life and career of the Spaniard.

12 – The young Ballesteros, whose uncle Ramon Sota had recently finished sixth in the US Masters, won his first tournament before his teenage years, hitting a 79 at his home town golf club at Pedrena in northern Spain.
65 – Aged 13, the obsessive young golfer shaved 14 shots off his Pedrena tournament-winning total.

19 – Little over two years after turning professional, Ballesteros announced himself to the world while still in his teenage years, finishing second behind Johnny Miller at The Open at Royal Birkdale in 1976.
1977 – The 20-year-old won his first European Tour Order of Merit.
6 – Ballesteros won six consecutive tournaments in four continents the following year.
WATCH: One of the most memorable moments in Open history, Seve Ballesteros’ victory at St Andrews in 1984. #TBThttps://t.co/MNFLBZ54O1
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 2, 2015
1979 – The mercurial talent won his first major at Lytham St Annes, lifting the Claret Jug after finishing three shots ahead of Jack Nicklaus and Ben Crenshaw.
5 – Ballesteros won five majors in all – the Masters in 1980 and 1983 and The Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 1979, St Andrews in 1984 and Royal Lytham St Annes again in 1988.
Most European Tour wins 🏆
5⃣0⃣ Ballesteros4⃣2⃣ Langer4⃣0⃣ Woods3⃣2⃣ Montgomerie3⃣1⃣ Faldo2⃣9⃣ Woosnam2⃣8⃣ Els2⃣3⃣ Westwood2⃣3⃣ Olazabal2⃣1⃣ Torrance2⃣1⃣ Jimenez1⃣8⃣ Lyle1⃣8⃣ James1⃣6⃣ McNulty1⃣5⃣ Harrington1⃣5⃣ Bjorn pic.twitter.com/EhiDC95AeM
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 9, 2018
93 – He came close to winning a century of professional golf tournaments. His haul included five World Match Plays and two World Cups.
9 – The Ryder Cup became a European team rather than just British and Irish when Ballesteros made his debut in 1979 and he went on to take part in nine tournaments, captaining the team to success in Spain in 1997.
50 – Ballesteros announced his retirement in 2007 at Carnoustie, the venue of his Open debut 32 years earlier. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour the following year and died in May 2011.
Latest
-
News
Rory McIlroy on latest near-miss in Abu Dhabi: ‘I don’t feel like I played great’
McIlroy avoids mentioning final-round blues but admits he needs to get more consistent.
-
News
Tyrrell Hatton eyes Ryder Cup spot after winning Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Hatton carded a closing 66 to finish 18 under par.
-
News
Tyrrell Hatton wins Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as Rory McIlroy misses out
Australia’s Jason Scrivener recorded an eagle and five birdies in a back nine of 29 to claim second place.
-
News
Rory McIlroy leads the way in Abu Dhabi as he eyes overdue victory
McIlroy will have to keep his Ryder Cup team-mates at bay if he is to claim the trophy.
-
News
Tyrrell Hatton dominant as Rory McIlroy falters in Abu Dhabi
Hatton led by five shots at the end of a second weather-affected day.
-
News
Phil Mickelson on Tiger’s latest surgery: ‘I feel bad because golf should be a game of a lifetime’
Mickelson admitted he was saddened by the news of Woods’ latest back surgery.
-
News
Rory McIlroy makes brilliant start to fog-affected Abu Dhabi Championship
McIlroy has a remarkable record in Abu Dhabi with four second-place finishes.
-
News
Rory McIlroy shines in Abu Dhabi to take first-round lead following flawless 64
McIlroy has a remarkable record in Abu Dhabi with four second-place finishes, three thirds and a fifth in his last nine starts, but has never won.
-
News
Justin Thomas on end of Ralph Lauren deal: ‘They moved on so that’s what I’m doing as well’
Justin Thomas said he was upset by...
-
News
My last win feels a long time ago – Rory McIlroy aiming to start year on a high
McIlroy has not tasted victory since November 2019.