Seve, the Robin Hood of Golf

A way of living

This is the story of a Champion that inspires many sportmen/women but also many "normal" (non-sportsy) people that live their daily routine of work and family.

This is an article that I have translated from a previous post I have done in Italian on Steemit not too long time ago, and it has been originally inspired by the movie: "Seve-The Movie" watched together with my family on Christmas.

Introduction

Severiano Ballesteros (1957-2011), of Spanish origins, was a professional golfer and number 1 in the World for many years before that Tiger Woods started climbing the World Rankings in 1997.

I remember when in 1996, I was only 8 years old, I shook his hand, I was with my dad whom pushed me towards Seve and introduced me to him.. he was his idol..and from that moment onwords he was mine too. An idol in sports, in golf, but also in life.

The story of a champion in sports and in life.

He won 5 Major Championships and 90 other international tournaments between 1979 and 1988.

50 years ago, a little Spanish kid was playing alone on the beach of Cantabria (North of Spain), he was not enjoying his time by simply building sand castles on the beach, as many "normal" kids, but he was rather preferring gripping and swinging an iron 3, the first golf club that was gifted to him by his elder brothers.

Seve's family was poor, they were farmers. Seve had 4 brothers much elder than him, by 8/10 years, in fact this is an important detail to know because he grew up always feeling the pressure of competition against his elders brothers, whom were clearly stronger physically, however though mentally Seve was stronger of all. Mental strenght is the most important quality to have in order to perform in the game of golf.

Being from a poor family, he did not have the opportunity to play golf in the course nearby their family house, the (Royal Pedreña Golf Club), which was only a few kilometers away.
In fact, during those times, it was unthinkable that the son of a farmer had access to a golf club.
However though, two of his brothers were working as caddies in the golf club and thanks to them he became passionate of the game.

Obliged to play on the sandy beaches, he was doing what he could (wanted) with his (only) iron-3. He was living his days religiously skipping school and taking shots on the beach, from sunrise to sunset.

The maximum of his future top aspirations arrived when he was given the opportunity to caddy in the golf club, hence the possibility to escape the job that his mother Carmen found for him at the shipping docks in Santander.
At that point some of his clients/golfplayers realized the incredible talent of Seve's, due to his amazing swing and smooth shots, so he was invited to play on the course.
Some time later, he was able to beat a young (25 years old) Spanish champ, from a rich family (De La Rivas), even when Seve was only 13 years. This match, between the two boys, in the movie was ambiguously painted as a class-war. A charachter in the movie described well this duel with the following words:

we own a garden while they (De La Rivas' family) own half of Santander's city.

In that match there were 50'000 thousands pesetas being bet.

If you ever looked for the reason why Seve was so excited to play the Ryder Cup, here it is: he was perceiving the Americans as the De La Rivas, kind of like the sheriffs and himself as Robin Hood.

Since he won the match with the De La Rivas' champ, his career was downhill, he won everything that was possible.
He became famous in all over the world since the first times his name started appearing on the Pro tournaments' leaderboards. Spectators started saying they've never seen a player like him.
Meanwhile his swing was something of rare beauty, it was his boldness, translated in sensational feats, that really hooked the golf fans.

He seemed not to know the meaning of problems and difficulties, he was always going for it, bravely, constantly very aggressive aiming at the flag. Almost everyone knows the story of Seve shooting his ball from a parking realizing an amazing birdie.
Like other pure talents he is together with Muhammad Ali, Pelé and Gary Sobers.
He invented new ways of winning, he could have even played with his raincoat on...

He was really a competitive man, a true winner! In fact once he said:

I watch my competitor in the eyes, shake his hand and wish him good luck, but inside me I'm thinking: I am going to bury you!..

Conclusion

He indeed had enormous talent, but the most important thing for him was to practice. All day and night, on holidays and also when he did not feel like it. He really had an outstanding determination and will, only with this philosophy he became the best in the world.

For me he was a true idol because I find his spirit and life-philpsophy as an inspiration in living my own life.
I have never become a champion, I used to practice, but probably not enough as him, or perhaps it was the talent that I was missing..
Anyway everyday now I wake up and tell myself: practice, practice and practice, only this way I can get anywhere, whether that is at work or in life.

Stay hungry, stay foolish

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References:

Seve The Movie