Seve’s memory is being celebrated at this week’s 25th anniversary Dubai Desert Classic and with organisers inviting his 23-year old son to an event won by Seve in 1992.
Javier Ballesteros joins Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez for the ‘Former Champions Challenge. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
Javier Ballesteros joined 20 former Desert Classic winners in a ‘Former Champions Challenge’ on Tuesday and with leading honours shared by Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello who each shot six under par 66s.
Olazabal joined an all-Spanish three-ball of Miguel Angel Jimenez and the young Ballesteros.
Seve Ballesteros had been two shots off the lead with six holes to play in 1992 when he chipped-in for birdie at 13 and then holed a four-footer for birdie at the next to tie Northern Ireland’s Ronan Rafferty.
Ballesteros then went on to defeat Rafferty in a play-off and claim his 41st of 45 European Tour victories.
It was no surprise when organizers grouped Javier, and winner of the 2012 Madrid Amateur title, with Olazabal and Jimenez.
Olazabal and Seve Ballesteros were the closest of friends competing together in four straight Ryder Cups from 1987 to 1993.
And there was no hiding Olazabal’s emotion when he embraced Javier on the first tee of the Emirates Course before the start of the Challenge.
“It was very emotional for me especially on the first tee because when I looked at Javier, I saw Seve,” said Olazabal.
“Looking at him just reminded me a lot of his father and I could pretty much see of a lot of sides of Seve on the golf course. Javier has the same mannerisms as his father especially when he stands over the ball.
“His short game if very nice. His chipping and putting is very good and just like his father, and he hit a couple of great bunker shots.
Javier Ballesteros teeing off in the 25th Anniversary Champions’ Challenge. (Picture: Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ie)
“It’s the first time I have played golf with Javier but then I have known him since he was a little kid, and I have known him since he came here to Dubai with Seve when he was roughly four or five years old.
“However he is a little more relaxed than his father. Well, at least he was today, and more easy.
“It was just great organisers invited him to come here to Dubai to represent Seve. It was a good touch.”
Javier Ballesteros has one year remaining studying Law at Madrid University but after posting a two over par 74, and finishing in front of the likes of former European No. 1s Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie, Olazabal can see the day when the name Ballesertos returns to the fairways of Europe.
“He needs to improve dramatically before he comes onto the Tour because he is a bit erratic off the tee,” said Olazabal.
“I know Javier is still studying at the moment and he probably needs a couple of years working on his game before he could consider qualifying for the Tour.
“He does need to find more length off the tee but for most parts his game is pretty solid.
“But we’ll see what he does after he finishes his studies.”
Event organisers have grouped Ballesteros for the opening two rounds with former champion, Wayne Westner and Denmark’s Soren Hansen.
