The influential golfer Seve Ballesteros was a native of Spain. Severiano Ballesteros Sota was born in Pedreña, Cantabria, on 9 April 1957, and became one of the most celebrated golfers in Spanish and European history.
Ballesteros learned the game on the beaches near his home, initially using a 3-iron given to him by his older brother when he was eight. Golf ran through his family: his uncle Ramón Sota was a four-time Spanish professional champion, while several brothers also became professional golfers.
He turned professional at 16 and rapidly became an international star. Ballesteros won five major championships—two Masters titles and three Open Championships—and collected a record 50 European Tour victories. His creativity around the greens and ability to recover from difficult positions made him especially influential to later generations.
Ballesteros also helped revive European golf in the Ryder Cup. He earned 22½ points in 37 matches, formed a legendary partnership with José María Olazábal, and captained Europe to victory in 1997. He died in Spain in 2011 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.