Spain to bid farewell to legend Seve

Spain is preparing to say farewell to golfing legend Seve Ballesteros with his funeral set for Wednesday in his home village of Pedrena.

Ballesteros died aged 54 on Saturday after a long battle with cancer. His ceremony will be at the San Pedro parish church at 1200 BST.

"Seve will be cremated at a ceremony that will be as intimate as possible and at a place that nobody will know," said the Ballesteros family.

"That was his express wish. His ashes will remain at his estate, at his home in Pedrena."

Seve's brother Baldomero Ballesteros, was quoted as saying: "The

funeral rites will be as simple as those for any neighbour from the

village. He was born here and here he will remain."

Miguel Angel Revilla, head of the local Cantabria government, said the region will observe three days of official mourning.

Seve, as he was affectionately known, was honoured around the world of sport on the weekend that he passed. Silences were observed at both the Open de Espana and Wells Fargo Championship, and this weekend the Spanish flag will fly in honour of the five-time Major winner at The Players Championship in America.

Normally, the previous year's winner has his national flag flying over

the Circle of Champions but the South African flag marking Tim Clark's

victory last May has been replaced.