In pictures: The genius of Seve Ballesteros

Seve Ballesteros played in 28 Masters, the first in 1977 before playing at Augusta for the final time 30 years later. He won ‘only’ twice in 1980 and 1983 but he lit up the fairways on plenty of other years with his length, grace, style, good looks and magical short game.

In the 1980s he had five other top fives, Jack Nicklaus has said that had he hit a 5-iron to the 15th in 1986 then there would have been no sixth Green Jacket for the American. A year later he lost a play-off to Larry Mize.

This year 25 Europeans teed it up at Augusta and every one of them should be thankful for how Seve took on America – and the world – in those early days.