MADRID, Spain, May 6 – Spanish golf legend Severiano Ballesteros, who underwent surgery for a brain tumour three years ago, has suffered a "severe deterioration" of his condition, his family said Friday in a statement on his website.
"The Ballesteros family reports that there has been a severe deterioration of the neurological condition of Seve Ballesteros," said the statement.
It said the family will be providing regular updates on his condition on the website, www.seveballesteros.com.
Ballesteros, 54, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour after losing consciousness at Madrid airport on October 6, 2008.
He underwent four operations to remove the tumour and reduce swelling in his skull as well as chemotherapy.
He has called his battle against the tumour the "hardest challenge of my life."
Regarded as one of golf’s all-time greats, Ballesteros won five majors during his stellar career.
He won the British Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and became the first European to win the Augusta Masters in 1980, an achievement he repeated in 1983.
Ballesteros was also an influential figure in the Ryder Cup, winning 20 points from 37 matches and captaining Europe to victory over the United States at Valderrama in 1997.
