‘Seve’s Still The Captain Of Our Ship’ … Larrazabal’s Lasting Memory On This Week’s 15th Year Anniversary Of Seve’s Passing.

2 months ago by Comments Off on ‘Seve’s Still The Captain Of Our Ship’ … Larrazabal’s Lasting Memory On This Week’s 15th Year Anniversary Of Seve’s Passing.

Pablo Larrazabal naturally wished so much to capture the 2011 Open de Espania at the host El Prat in Barcelona.

It was 15-years ago today Saturday May 7th that not only the golf world but also the sports world was shocked by news of the passing of Seve Ballasteros.

Seve was aged just 54.

It was around 3pm later that day Larrazabal joined hundreds – including fellow Spaniards Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez plus other players, officials, caddies, spectators, members of the media and so many others – who stood in line on the El Prat practice range early on that highly emotional Saturday afternoon in memory of Seve Ballesteros.

 

It was an occasion this jounalist will forever remember.

There was not a dry eye anywhere and with Seve’s dearest friend and fellow major champion Jose Maria Olazabal clearly emotionally overwhelmed,

‘Ollie’ had been the first outside of Seve’s family to be advised of his passing a day earlier on May 7th and I still vividly recall, as Ollie walked from the course post his Saturday round of 77 , the sight of tears just pouring down his face.  The tears, as mentioned abovem continued to flow uncontrollably as he handed in his scorecard.

Higher up the leaderboard was Larrazabal having signed for a third round 71 to be sharing third place with a round to play at seven-under and trailing only three shots adrift of South African Thomas Aitken at 10-under.

Larrazal was also a week shy of turning 28-years-old and had already displayed his enormous talent in making the golf world stand-up and take notice in denying a shell-shocked Colin Montgomerie by four shots to capture the 2008 French Open, and the first of what is presently nine DP World Tour victories.

It seemed all of Spain so wanted Larrazabal to win for Seve and there was a feeling, and in the most sincerest of ways, that given Larrazabal’s strong connection with El Pratt what a fitting memory it would be.  As well,  Seve had won the Spanish Open in 1981 and then for a third occasion in 1995, and with his ’95 triumph being Seve’s 50th and last DP World Tour sucesses.

Sunday dawned very overcast and highle sombre and with South African Thomas Aitken winning from a teary-eyed Larrazabal finishing third.   

Aitken did dedicate his victory to Seve but what a storyline it would have been had Larrazabal succeeded.

“It was very hard,” Larazabal recalled in speaking this week with MyGolfWay.

“I spent many summers in Pedreña; I knew him very well, and he left us too soon. Seve was the captain of our ship; I can’t carry on his legacy because that’s for a select few, but it’s our mission to always remember him and for him to remain our captain.”

Larazabal’s Seve moment materialised two weeks from the 11th anniversary (May 7th, 2022) of Seve’s passing in winning on Spanish soil for a first time since turning professional in 2004.

Pablo Larrazabal wins on Spanish home soil with victory in the 2022 ISPS Handa Championship Spain. Image Getty

Larrazabal brilliantly cut a swath through the closing 18 holes, coming from a share of sixth with still two completed rounds to play in the rain-affected event and emerge on Sunday to shoot a third round 68 ahead of a brilliant closing eight-under-par 62, under a continuing preferred lie ruling. to win by a shot in claiming victory in the ISPS Handa Championship of Spain.

It was a long wait, and with Larrazabal on the Lakes Course practice range, when victory was confirmed and with fellow Spanish Adrian Otaegui (66) runner-up on 14-under.

It was Larrazabal’s maiden and only victory on home Spanish soil, and also his second win in the then 50th anniversary year for the DP World Tour, along with his seventh win on the Tour and the 15th win of his pro career.



Comments are closed.