Time for stars to turn Seve Trophy into a fitting tribute

By Derek Lawrenson for the Daily Mail
Updated: 19:40 EST, 9 May 2011


We've had the written words, the television tributes, and a one-minute silence observed at tournaments all around the world.

Now, as the game struggles to get back on its feet following the death of Seve Ballesteros, what will the powers-that-be come up with that will stand as a fitting reminder of the Spaniard's unique contribution?

Padraig Harrington has started the ball rolling with a call to change the European Tour logo from an image of Harry Vardon in silhouette to one of Seve in iconic pose, and what's not to like about that idea?

Gone, but not forgotten: Seve's memory will live long in the game he loved so much

Gone, but not forgotten: Seve's memory will live long in the game he loved so much

After all, where would the Tour be now if Seve had not fired up a world of possibility? At Wentworth next week, they will announce the host for the 2018 Ryder Cup and why not Madrid, the city of Seve's choice, complete perhaps with the new course that is being built for the occasion now bearing his name?

What I'd particularly like to see happen is a tournament that does justice to his memory. At the moment we have the Seve Trophy, a match held in non-Ryder Cup years between sides representing Britain and Ireland and Continental Europe, where many top players don't turn up.

The name has been changed to the Vivendi Trophy with Seve Ballesteros, a title which clearly enters the realms of bad taste with his passing.

When it takes place this September, let's get back to knowing it as the Seve Trophy. At a time when the European game has never been stronger, let's see all the best players back up their nice words about the great man these past few days, and support the event that carries his name.

No-one was prouder than Seve when the event began life at Sunningdale in 2000 with everyone who was anyone in attendance. There would be no better way of paying respect than for a similar thing to happen in Paris this autumn.

FLYING THE FLAG FOR SEVE

Defending champ: Tim Clark

At the Players Championship at Sawgrass this week it will not be the South African flag that has pride of place flying from the winner's mast but the Spanish one.

Defending champion Tim Clark made the request to honour Seve and it is nice to see the US Tour, whose officials didn't always see eye to eye with the Spaniard, to say the least, have agreed at what is their flagship event.

HARRINGTON OFF TO A TEE

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club certainly knew what they were doing when they appointed Padraig Harrington as an ambassador. It seems to be the Irishman's unwitting goal to draw attention to every law in the game's crazy rule book.

On Sunday night at the Wells Fargo Championship, the Irishman was facing a second disqualification of the year and the third of his career after a spectator reported he might have played from in front of the tee markers at the 13th.

Harrington and his playing partner, Phil Mickelson, were taken back to the tee box to stare at divots following the completion of their rounds. You could sense Harrington's embarrassment.

'There's no way I'd tee off from in front of the tee box,' he said and, quite rightly, he was given the benefit of the doubt. 'Padraig is one of the most honourable men out here,' said Mickelson.

One of the most accident-prone, too. The tournament was won by former US Open champion Lucas Glover, who beat Jonathan Byrd in a sudden death play-off.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

'I held his hands, caressed them and thought, "What these hands have done in the world".

Baldomero Ballesteros says a wonderfully poignant goodbye to his younger brother, Seve.

CURRENT GOLF STARS ARE A KNOCKOUT

Where is the Sir Henry Cooper among today's sports stars, asked a piece on the feature pages of this newspaper last Saturday.

Well, how about Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald to name but five from my own game alone? All are world class, all excellent role models and all would have got the seal of approval from the golf-loving Sir Henry.

Why do we always feel the need to put down today's generation? It ain't fair and it ain't right.

Three of the best: McIlroy (left), Harrington (centre) and Westwood (right) are in the current crop of golfing greats
Three of the best: McIlroy (left), Harrington (centre) and Westwood (right) are in the current crop of golfing greats
Three of the best: McIlroy (left), Harrington (centre) and Westwood (right) are in the current crop of golfing greats

Role models: McIlroy (left), Harrington (centre)  and Westwood (right) are in the current crop of golfing greats

RETURN OF THE MAC

Each week on these pages for seven years from 1999, our peerless cartoonist Stan McMurtry (Mac) drew a cartoon with a golf theme and invited readers to pen a caption, with each winner receiving 36 Wilson golf balls.

'It wasn't long before I was snowed under with postcards each week,' recalls Mac.

Now they have been gathered in a book, Mac's Tee Time, by Anova Books, for just £7.99. It's a delightful, whimsical look at the sport that reveals not only Mac's skill at his craft and love of the game but also the dry wit of our readers.

It's also a cheery note on which to finish at the end of a dreadfully sombre few days.

 


Comments (2)

Share what you think

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now