Seve Ballesteros was famous for playing with no fear, a man who never held back and was willing to try the unimaginable and, more often than not, pull it off as well.
In 1979, at the 108th Open, the 16th tee shot at Royal Lytham & St Annes was a blind one. Once again Ballesteros reached for the big stick, despite having a two-shot lead to protect. Sure enough, his drive went veering off to the right and ended up in a temporary car park.
The crowds flocked to find it and Ballesteros was greeted with the news his ball had come to rest underneath the front bumper of a parked car. But that day the rules smiled on Seve, and he was granted a free drop away from the cars in an area with flattened rough due to it doubling as a car park all week.
What followed is Open Championship history.
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9 Comments
What is your first memory of the great Seve Ballesteros?
We miss you Seve!!
One of first of the modern era, who opened up the game to a new generation.
So who in the R&A thought it was a good idea to put a car park 15 yards off the fairway at a major?
What a legend
Einer der besten Golfer der Welt. Eine Legende des Golfsports. Mehr geht nicht.
My favourite. I watched this live on TV with my dad. It was so exciting – Seve jogging down the fariways for the final few holes to ready to hit the next shot.
The reason I play golf ♥️ miss you seve
His caddy maintained that Seve played for the car park, or at least far right so as to be pitching straight into the breeze. The rough was trampled by spectators so he was assured of a reasonable lie. Too many great shots to name just one. True legend!