Jose Maria Olazabal paid tribute to Seve Ballesteros by reading out a letter from his friend and fellow Spaniard during the Masters champions'' dinner on Tuesday night (April 7th).
Ballesteros, who triumphed at Augusta in 1980 and 1983, was unable to attend this year''s event as he continues to recover from surgery to remove a malignant brain tumour.
Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said that the letter had produced an emotional response from the assembled former champions.
"As it was read, you could feel in the air the reciprocation from his friends and former champions, going all the way back to Spain … It was an amazing, amazing moment," he told reporters.
Payne also spoke of Ballesteros at his tournament-opening press conference, describing the five-time Major winner from Cantabria as "a true champion and fierce competitor".
Ballesteros, the first European golfer to win the Masters, celebrates his 52nd birthday today.
09/04/2009