From The Editor: Seve Ballesteros, We Miss You
Golf Monthly editor Mike Harris shares his thoughts on the great Seve Ballesteros, 10 years on from his passing
Golf Monthly editor Mike Harris shares his thoughts on the great Seve Ballesteros, 10 years on from his passing
From The Editor: Seve Ballesteros, We Miss You
Major champion, Ryder Cup hero, short game maestro, escapologist, captain, golfing ambassador, course designer and inimitable personality; Severiano Ballesteros’ career and life was exemplified by excellence and determination.
His influence on golf remains strong to this day and I was reminded of just how important he was in fostering my own interest in this great game as I went through the superb content, marking the 10-year anniversary of his sad death, contained in the latest issue of Golf Monthly.
Few golfers in the history of the game have provided so many with such motivation to play and improve as Seve Ballesteros.
For me, and many of my golfing contemporaries, Seve was both an idol and an inspiration.
Watching his swashbuckling and hugely determined approach to the sport was thrilling and captivating, as he played a pivotal role in thrusting European golf into the limelight in the late 1970s and through the 1980s.
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His breakthrough victory at Augusta opened the floodgates for European winners and his three Open triumphs were achieved with such stirring and memorable passion.
Think, his iconic fist-pumping celebrations at St Andrews in 1984, captured by photographer David Cannon and described in David’s words.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccbuWE6GI24&t=322s
David has produced a brilliant book to mark the anniversary, Seve: His Life Through The Lens, which we have reviewed.
And then, of course, there was Seve’s contribution to the Ryder Cup, in which as player, captain and even posthumously, he was Europe’s talisman.
My interest in watching and following professional golf intensified significantly because of Seve, and in that I know I’m not alone.
Also, in our section dedicated to Ballesteros in this month's issue; Bill Elliott, Dan Davies and Seve’s son Javier share their memories and thoughts on the great man – Superb and heartfelt articles that paint pictures of Seve as a father, friend, icon and inspiration.
Podcast: Bill Elliott on his career covering Seve Ballesteros
Shots from the trees, shots from his knees, up-and-downs from impossible positions, raking drives…
Seve’s game was unpredictable and hugely exciting.
Seve made you want to go out and try to play a flop shot, to try to play with a little more style, he simply made you want to go out and play. We miss him.
Mike has been a journalist all his working life, starting out as a football writer with Goal magazine in the 1990s before moving into men’s and women’s lifestyle magazines including Men's Health, In 2003 he joined Golf Monthly and in 2006 he became only the eighth editor in Golf Monthly’s 100-plus year history leading the brand until July 2023. He is now Content Director overseeing Golf Monthly and two other iconic sports brands, FourFourTwo and Rugby World.
His three main passions in golf are courses (he's played over 500 worldwide), equipment (he's always in search of something shiny to give him an edge) and shoes (he owns more pairs than he cares to mention!).
Mike’s handicap index hovers at around 10 and he is a member of six golf clubs: Hartley Wintney, Royal Liverpool, Royal North Devon, Prince's, Royal Norton and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
Mike's current What's In The Bag?
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 10° - Fujikura Ventus Blue 5S - Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grip
Fairway woods: TaylorMade Sim Max 3/15° - Fujikura Ventus Blue 6S & TaylorMade Stealth 7/20° - Fujikura Ventus Red 6S - Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grips
Utility Iron: TaylorMade Stealth UDI 3/21° - Aldila Ascent 90HY - Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grip
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (5-PW) - Fujikura Axiom 75R - Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grips
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 50°, 54° and 58° - KBS Tour Hi-Rev 2.0 shafts - Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grips
Putter: Evnroll ER2B - Gravity Grip
Ball: TaylorMade - Tour Response (Yellow)
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