Severiano Ballesteros has revealed that doctors have told him he has a brain tumour.
The golfing great has been in a Madrid hospital for the past week after briefly losing consciousness during an epileptic fit.
Medical staff have since carried out an extensive range of tests on the former captain of Europe''s Ryder Cup team, eventually identifying the more serious problem.
A biopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, after which specialists will decide on a course of treatment.
Ballesteros said in a statement: "Throughout my entire career I have been one of the best at overcoming obstacles on the golf course. And now I want to be the best, facing the most difficult game of my life."
The 51-year-old enjoyed a glittering career before persistent injury forced him to retire in 2007.
He made his name by finishing as runner-up at the Open Championship when just 19 years old, before going on to win the Claret Jug for the first time in 1979.
Ballesteros then won the Masters in both 1980 and 1983, before claiming further Open titles in 1984 and 1988.
The Spaniard also played in eight Ryder Cups and captained Europe to victory at Valderrama in 1997. |