‘The fans want it’: Ballesteros dreams of tour event in memory of Seve
Javier Ballesteros dreams of a tour event in memory of his dad – and says it’s what the fans want.
He also revealed moves were also afoot to try and revive the Seve Trophy, the biennial battle between Great Britain & Ireland and Continental Europe that was last staged in 2013.
Speaking to NCG, as his family continue to mark the 10th anniversary of his father’s death, Ballesteros said his ambition was to see a tournament with his father’s name attached.
Asked whether he felt the responsibility of continuing Seve’s legacy, he explained: “It’s a little bit of responsibility always, obviously, but it comes easily. Anytime we want to do something to remember my dad, or continue his legacy through his Foundation, it comes easily because people are always really helpful.
“One of my dreams, more or less since my dad passed away, is having a European Tour event with his name [on it]. I wish that the day comes and there’s a tournament with his name on it.
“I think he deserves it. The fans want it and it will be good for the European Tour and good for my dad.”
The Seve Trophy, which was held in years where was no Ryder Cup, was a breeding ground for the huge tussle with the United States.
Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Paul McGinley, Jose Maria Olazabal and Thomas Bjorn were all future European Ryder Cup skippers who tasted captaincy through the Seve Trophy and a host of players, including Ian Poulter, also cut their teeth in the event before becoming Ryder Cup stalwarts.
Ballesteros added: “We are trying to get it back. It’s at an initial stage, you could call it, but it will probably come back. Obviously, we are starting to speak [to people] to get it back.”
This year has seen the release of a book, Seve: His Life Through The Lens written by David Cannon, and a feature documentary, Seve: Artist. Fighter. Legend.
Ballesteros has also retraced his father’s steps over the last few months, playing for the first time at the Old Course at St Andrews, the scene of Seve’s 1984 Open triumph, in the Dunhill Links, and competing at the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama, where Seve memorably captained Europe to Ryder Cup glory in 1997.
“Anytime I go to the golf course, it doesn’t matter if it is in Spain or outside, there’s usually something to remember my dad on that course,” he added.
“There has been many times that people come to me and say ‘your dad was my idol’ or they share a story with me that happened with my dad.
“The most impressive thing, and it keeps on happening to me and especially through Twitter, is people who have written to me and saying their son is called Seve because of my dad.”
He added: “That really impresses me. I mean – how much those people love my dad to call their son after him. It’s pretty amazing and it’s pretty amazing how much people still love my dad and I really appreciate it.”
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Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
