Tributes are pouring in following the terribly sad news Seve Ballesteros passed away earlier this morning.

Handsome and charismatic, Ballesteros dominated in his day on the other side of the ocean the way Tiger Woods did a generation later.

During a six-week stretch in 1978, he won six tournaments on six different continents. He finished his career with five major championships — two Masters (1980 and ’83) and three British Opens (’79, ’84 and ’88).

Leading the tributes are Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tiger Woods.

Jack Nicklaus (18 Major Championship victories)

“Seve was able to create shots, invent shots and play shots from anywhere.  When he won at Royal Lytham in 1979, he played the 16th hole from a parking lot.  I have watched him play 1-irons out of greenside bunkers, when just fooling around.

“He could get up and down out of a garbage can. He could do anything with a golf club and a golf ball.”

Arnold Palmer (7 Majar Championship victories)

“Seve was a flamboyant, high-flying guy that got to the job. And winning the tournaments he won, the Open, the Masters, he did it with style.

“He was always outgoing, and he was always doing things that attracted people, the gallery, the fans. They loved him for the way he played and for his graciousness in the process of doing all that.”

Gary Player (Nine Major Championship victories)

“I loved him like a son and will remember his charisma and flair.  RIP, my friend.”

Tiger Woods (14 Major Championship victories)

“I’m deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Seve.  I always enjoyed spending time with him at the Champions Dinner with him at the Masters.

“Seve was one of the most talented and exciting golfers to ever play the game.  His creativity and inventiveness on the golf course may never be surpassed.  His death came much too soon.

“He was probably the most creative player who’s ever played the game.  I’ve never seen anyone who has had a better short game than him.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have had an opportunity to pick his brain on several occasions around the greens, watched him hit just shot after shot after shot and have him explain how he did it, why he did it. It was just phenomenal. And to see the creativity.

“He was a genius.”

Nick Faldo (6 Major Championship wins, 11 Ryder Cups & 2008 European Team captain)

“The Cirque du Soleil is the greatest show I’ve ever seen.  It’s passion, artistry, skill, it’s drama. That was Seve.

“That man was in a different state. It was quite something. We talked about the swashbuckling way he played. He hit it and chased after it and hit it, but there never was two follow-throughs the same.

“You had to stand back and admire it.  I was a fan and so fortunate I had a front-row seat.”

Colin Montgomerie (Eight-time European No. 1, 40 victories, eight Ryder Cups & 2010 European Team captain)

“There are very few players or very few people in this world who can enter a room and with their presence everyone knows someone great is in that room, even if you don’t see them.

“Seve had that presence. Incredible charisma and genius. I watched Seve from when I was young and he was an incredible genius of a talent, a natural talent. I think that’s what you would remember Seve as, a natural player. The club just looked right in his hands somehow always. And that will be missed.

“His charisma and his presence will be missed.”

Ernie Els (1994 & ’97 U.S. Open & 2002 British Open champion)

“This is a very sad day for golf.  Seve was such an iconic figure and the flag bearer for European golf over many years.  He opened up so many doors for Europe’s players by winning all over the world and particularly in America.   The European Tour would not be what it is today without him.

“Seve was an absolute hero of mine and I modelled so much of my game on him.  I was very fortunate to have had  the opportunity to play with him many times and the most memorable was our battle in the World Matchplay of 1994. It was an unforgettable day and I feel honoured that I was able to share centre stage with him.

“Seve was a very proud man in golf and in life in general.   He never backed down from a challenge.  The world of golf has lost one of its greatest heroes.”

Mark O’Meara (1998 Masters and British Open champion)

“To lose his life at such an early age is sad.

“At the Masters dinner this year Jose Maria got up and talked and gave an incredible talk about reminiscing about Seve and talked about growing up and idolizing Seve. It was very heartwarming.

“His desire to win; his fight and the ability to create and play shots was reminiscent of Palmer and Watson.  He had a flair for the game that was quite amazing and that will always be remembered.”

Padraig Harrington (2007 & 2008 Open Champion & 2008 PGA Champion)

“Seve was the most charismatic and artistic golfer I have ever seen play the game. He helped the tremendous growth of the European Tour during the 70’s and 80’s and inspired all those players who came after him. He will be sadly missed.”

Curtis Strange (2002 USA Ryder Cup Captain, double US Open champion)

“Seve was a throwback. He was a magician.  If you wanted to see exciting shots and a train wreck in the same day, that’s what you got. And I say that with utmost respect.

“He was the Arnold Palmer of European golf.  Seve loved the stage, and that was the grandest stage, where you played with a lot of emotion. He just thrived on the competition.”

Michael Campbell (1995 U.S. Open champion)

“I had the pleasure of meeting Seve many times and I always marveled at the charisma that surrounded him.

“He was a larger than life figure and one of the absolute legends in the game. 

“Even though Seve was in the later stages of his career when I first joined the European Tour, I would always be amazed how he played the game. 

“His passing is a great loss to golf, to the European Tour and to sport in general and it’s just very, very sad he’s left us so young.”

Stewart Cink (2009 British Open champion).

“What I’ll always remember about Seve was the way he thrust his fist into the air and then turned to the crown in just about every direction and did it again and again.” (1984 British Open win)

Ben Crenshaw (1984 & 1995 Masters champion)

“When he won at St. Andrews, that’s one of the greatest reactions in the history of the game.”

Raymond Floyd (Four Majors Championship victories)

“Seve was the most creative player in and around the golf course that I’ve ever seen.

“I used to think I was creative, but what he did pretty much defied description. That is how Seve will be remembered by the people who knew him, for that and the generous spirit that went unseen even by his fans.”

Hale Irwin (1974 & ‘78 U.S. Open winner)

“Seve was a European but he held Americans at arm’s length, and I understand that.  He was one of the best players of the ear I played in.  There were a few guys who you could simply call by a name, like Arnie, Jack or Lee, and know exactly who it was. And you could say, ‘Seve’ and everyone knew who it was.”

Nick Price (1994 Open & PGA Champion)

“The European Tour would not be where it is today if not for Seve Ballesteros.  He was an icon.  I would say most of us would shoot a 65 and find 30 to 40 ways to do it.  Seve had 10,000 ways of producing the same score.

“He was so courageous around the green.  It didn’t matter if there was a tree or a bunker, he’d figure out a way to get up and down.”

“Whatever you may have heard about him, his love of the game, his competitiveness, he was always kind to me.  I don’t want to say I idolised the guy, but I respected him.  For all of us that spent time with him and played against him, it’s very sad.”

Phil Mickelson (2004, ’06 & ’10 Masters winner, 2005 PGA Champion)

“Seve was the guy I wanted to play a practice round with the most.  When I played my first PGA Tour event in San Diego in 1988, Ernie Gonzales arranged a practice round with him.

“From that day on, he couldn’t have been nicer to me. We had a great round of golf. He showed me a few things, showed me a few shots, and ever since then we’ve had a good relationship for the last 23 years that I’ve known him. I have nothing but nice things to say about him.

“He’s certainly had an impact on the game.  But to me the greatest thing about Seve was his flair and charisma. Because of the way he played the game of golf, you were drawn to him. You wanted to go watch him play. He had charisma and he kind of had so many shots that it was fun to watch him play.”

Paul Azinger (1993 PGA Champion & 2008 USA Ryder Cup Captain)

“Seve’s one of the first persons who called when I got sick. 

“I was too sick to talk to anyone when Seve called, but when you’re sick, that’s all you need to hear, that someone called.  It isn’t the words of encouragement you really remember. It’s the act, the idea he called. That meant everything.

“We had our moments that I think we regret playing out on a public stage, but we had totally resolved all that in a conversation.

“People feel an emotion about Seve unlike any other player that’s ever played golf. He probably had the greatest flair for the game of anybody I’ve ever played with.  

“He had the `it’ factor, the charisma. He was very passionate and giving of his knowledge, and he was also extremely patriotic.

“I played practice rounds with Seve, and we got along great, but when we played together at the Ryder Cup, there was a whole other side to Seve. That patriotic mechanism kicked in and changed the way he played. I think his passion became even greater than what it was winning major championships.”

Davis Love 111 (1997 PGA Champion & 2012 USA Ryder Cup Captain.

“It was an exciting way for me to start my Ryder Cup career to play against Seve (1993 The Belfry).  It was incredible.  Seve was an icon in the game. He was someone I looked up to and I copied his swing.

“Everybody wanted to be as exciting and as fun and as flashy as Seve. Everyone wanted to be aggressive and as flamboyant as Seve. Everyone wanted that style. He was definitely someone who I grew up idolizing and it was great I got to play against him some.”

Sergio Garcia (20 tour victories & 5 Ryder Cup appearances)

“I am devastated to hear of Seve’s passing.  He has inspired me so much throughout my career, and I admired him above all for his fighting spirit – never more so than in the manner in which he has battled this terrible illness.

“The loss of this great man leaves an enormous void in the world of sport, although he will be remembered and loved forever.

“He was my idol.  He was a champion on the golf course, but also a champion for the game in Spain and in Europe. I send my sincerest condolences to Seve’s family.”

Tom Kite (1992 US Open champion & 1995 USA Ryder Cup Captain)

“When he got going, it was almost as if Seve was driving a Ferrari and the rest of us are in Chevrolets.” 

Matteo Manassero (Two-time European Tour winner & youngest ever player to win on European Tour)

“We have lost a golfing genius and it was a tough day for everyone playing today (Third round, Spanish Open).

“But for me, he’s been the most inspiring player in the world and he’s always been my idol and someone I’ve always looked up to and it’s just very sad he’s no longer with us.

“I was four years old when I first met Seve and I have always been inspired by him and now after all he’s been through he is going to inspire me even more.”

Paul Lawrie – 1999 Open Champion.

“Seve was my golfing idol when I was growing up. The first time I ever played with him was the Spanish Open in 1992. It was my fourth event as a tour pro.  I never slept the night before because he was the guy who was exciting.  He was winning tournaments but not from the fairway.  He was swash-buckling and he was just exciting to watch.

“I remember him walking up the tee at that Spanish Open and I was thinking to myself ‘he’s coming, he’s coming, he’s coming, he’s coming’.

“Seve just had that charisma and here was me about 22 years of age, a young lad and I had just played four or five Tour events, and he was just great to play with.  I actually shot 68 and he shot 70.

“He was just my idol.  He was an inspiration, no question. Too many people forget that the tournaments he won that he won over an 18-year period.  He had finished played by around about 40, so he won a lot of tournaments in a short space of time.

“He’s probably our best ever player.  He was just fantastic.  He was hard to play with because he was my idol but he didn’t make it difficult for me.  But will all miss him.”

Graeme McDowell (2010 U.S. Open champion)

“Seve is in all our thoughts and prayers. One of European golf’s shining lights and most charismatic stars is gone but not forgotten. Legend.”

Ian Poulter (13 Tour victories)

“The last time we spoke to Seve was on the eve of the 2010 Ryder Cup. I will remember his words for the rest of my life.”

George O’Grady (European Tour CEO)

“It is a very sad day for all who love golf. Seve’s unique legacy must be the inspiration he has given to so many to watch, support, and play golf, and finally to fight a cruel illness with equal flair, passion, and fierce determination.

“We have all been so blessed to live in his era. He was the inspiration behind The European Tour.”

Peter Dawson, CEO Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews

“Everyone at the R&A is saddened to hear of Seve’s death. Our thoughts go out to his family.

“Seve was one of the brightest lights of our game and was an inspiration to millions.  His iconic celebration here at St Andrews, on the 18th green in 1984, ranks as one of sport’s greatest moments. The game has lost one of the greats; it is a very sad day for golf.”

Tim Finchem, PGA Tour Commissioner.

“All of us at the PGA TOUR are very saddened to learn of the passing of Seve Ballesteros. Our hearts and deepest sympathies go out to the Ballesteros family and his many fans during this very sad time.

“For more than 30 years, Seve had a large impact on the game and inspired many players with his creativity and flair on and off the golf course. A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, Seve was truly an international icon, winning 87 tournaments worldwide, including five major championships.

“His influence on the Ryder Cup was transformational, as his exceptional abilities as a player helped lead to the inclusion of continental European players, which up until 1979 had been excluded from the team made up of those from Great Britain and Ireland.

“Some of the greatest moments in Ryder Cup history featured Seve, either as a player on one of the eight teams he played on or as captain of the victorious 1997 team in his home country of Spain.

“Seve Ballesteros’ impact on golf will be felt long into the future, and we join his family and many friends in mourning his passing.”

Butch Harmon (Golf instructor)

“Seve had an unusual style of swinging the golf club.  He had an unusual body. His arms were longer than most people’s his height. Most people don’t realize his right arm was longer than his left arm, so his swing was built around the length of his arms and his torso.

“The thing that was phenomenal about Severiano Ballesteros was his imagination and creativity. He saw things that other players don’t see. He saw shots they don’t see. He was just a genius.

“He was like watching an artist paint a picture when you’d see him in the trees. I think he was more at home in the trees than in the middle of the fairway. The more trouble he got into, the more comfortable he felt in the situation.”