GREEN WITH ENVY
Ballesteros: American golf fans hated me for beating their heroes.. and the USA players got jealous. They’d say: Here comes the Spaniard to take our money
SEVE BALLESTEROS arrived at Augusta National 40 years ago today at the start of a week which changed Masters history – and infuriated the Americans.
Opening with a sensational 66, the swashbuckling Spaniard led after every round to become the first European to don a Green Jacket.
But it was not only a coup for a vibrant young gun. Seve’s 1980 Masters triumph also ushered in a golden age of European domination of the first Major of the season.
With American legends Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer playing together in the final round, the home crowd had definitely not come to see a Spanish upstart.
Former amateur star Peter Mcevoy recalled: “I was staying with my American in-laws at the time and I was still in Augusta in a sulk after missing the cut. I remember my former father-in-law went for the last day but he arrived back at about 3pm, saying: ‘It’s not much of a tournament this year.’
“It was because he was American and he just hated the fact that this European was dominating his players. They were used to winning every year.”
Ever the crowd pleaser, Ballesteros – who celebrated his 23rd birthday the day before the first round – did his best to keep the audience entertained during the final 18 holes on Sunday.
The Spanish magician saw a 10-shot lead at the turn reduced to a three-shot advantage after putting two balls in the water before winning by four. At his winner’s press conference, he admitted saying to himself mid-round:
“What are you doing? You are very stupid.”
But Ballesteros, who died of a brain tumour in 2011, said in 2006 that the US players resented his success more than the crowds did – and made his win even sweeter. “They were kind of jealous,” said the Spaniard, who would have turned 63 on Thursday this week.
“I heard several times in the locker room: ‘Here comes the Spaniard to take our money.’
“It was always a pleasure to beat the Americans because obviously they have a better tour, better courses, and on paper they’re supposed to be better.
“So any time you win in America, you feel great. But I have nothing against the Americans, I love that country.”
At the age of 23 years and four days, Ballesteros became the youngest Masters winner until 21-year-old Tiger Woods broke his record in 1997. But he had paved the way, with the next two decades ruled by Europeans.
Sandy Lyle, the 1988 champion, said: “It opened the floodgates for others like myself, Faldo, Langer, Olazabal and Woosie.
“We were all about the same age.
“So it was like, ‘If Seve can do it at Augusta, we have all got a good chance’.”
It was putting off American audiences.. to have the most glamorous, best player dominating them was not something they enjoyed