Spanish golfer receives emotional farewell

AP

Photo

In this May 18, 2007, AP FILE PHOTO, Seve Ballesteros of Spain smiles before teeing off during the Regions Charity Classic at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Hoover, Ala. Ballesteros died early Saturday at his home in Pedrena in northern Spain from complications of a cancerous brain tumor. He was 54.

Associated Press

PEDRENA, Spain

To the mournful wail of a lone bagpipe, some of Europe’s greatest golfers joined family, friends and local residents Wednesday at the funeral of Seve Ballesteros, paying an emotional final tribute to the dynamic Spaniard who revived the European game.

Ryder Cup captains Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Woosnam, Sam Torrance and Jose Maria Olazabal and players including Miguel Angel Jimenez marched together in silence as part of the procession from Ballesteros’ family home to the church of San Pedro de Pedrena.

Young boys and girls wore replicas of the navy blue outfit that Ballesteros wore for his first British Open win in 1979. They each held a 3-iron, the only club Ballesteros owned when he learned to play golf.

About 400 people packed the church to provide Ballesteros with one final send-off before his ashes were spread under a magnolia tree at the family home in this tiny fishing village in northern Spain.

Ballesteros, a five-time major winner and Ryder Cup stalwart, died Saturday at age 54 from complications of a cancerous brain tumor.

“He was so young and such a great man. A great champion — the best Europe ever had,” Torrance said.

Ballesteros’ oldest son, Javier, carried the urn holding the Spanish golf great’s ashes at the front of the procession, with the somber notes of a single bagpipe punctuating the occasion on an overcast day in the village off the Bay of Santander.

The crowd of up to 1,000 gathered outside the church burst into applause as Ballesteros’ ashes reached the church. Locals, friends and others watched from one of the three giant screens set up outside.

“With hard work he went from nothing to everything, realizing his dream to be the best and to be in the heart of the people,” said nephew Ivan Ballesteros, who was flanked by the golfer’s sons Javier and Miguel on the church altar. “In the end he decided when and where it ended. Rest my friend, rest Seve.”