Seve honoured to join elite list at St Andrews

Published on Wednesday 11 November 2009 22:25

SEVE Ballesteros has accepted an invitation to became an Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

"I am greatly honoured to accept (the Honorary Membership]," said the three-time Open champion.

"I have had, perhaps, the outstanding moment of my career at St Andrews and the town will always retain a very special place close to my heart."

That special moment at St Andrews came in 1984, where his legendary fist pump, a reaction to holing the birdie putt on the final hole of the Old Course to claim his second Claret Jug, became famous the world over and is now used as a logo for his group of companies.

"I sincerely hope that I will be able to come back next year and be part of the 150th anniversary of The Open Championship," he added.

Earlier this year, Ballesteros, who suffered a brain tumour just over a year ago and has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment, launched the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, an organisation which aims to aid research into cancer, particularly brain tumours. Simultaneously, the Foundation also assists young, underprivileged golfers to develop their golfing careers.

The Spaniard joins an illustrious list of Honorary Members of the R&A: His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh KG, KT; His Royal Highness The Duke of York KG, KCVO, ADC; His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent KG, GCMG, GCVO; The Hon. George Herbert Walker Bush GCB; Peter Alliss; Tony Jacklin CBE; John Jacobs OBE; Kel Nagle; Jack Nicklaus; Arnold Palmer; Gary Player; Peter Thomson CBE, AO; Lee Trevino; Roberto De Vicenzo and Tom Watson.