Seve Ballesteros life-size statue stolen from hometown

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A life-size statue of Seve Ballesteros that was put in in his hometown has been stolen, Spanish authorities stated.

The statue, inbuilt 2009, commemorates Ballesteros' win on the 1984 Open Championship at St. Andrews. The Spaniard died of mind most cancers at age 54 in 2011.

"Earlier immediately we have been knowledgeable that the statue devoted to Seve Ballesteros in Pedreña has gone lacking. The Native Police and the Civil Guard have launched an investigation to make clear what occurred, and all indications recommend that it was a theft," the city council stated Monday in an Instagram put up.

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A statue of Seve Ballesteros celebrating his 1984 Open Championship win was stolen from his hometown on Monday, Spanish authorities stated. (David Cannon, David Benito/Getty Photos)

The Open Championship depicted within the statue was one in every of 5 majors the Corridor of Famer gained. He gained the Masters twice together with two different Open Championships.

Ballesteros performed a key position in what the Ryder Cup is immediately. The match had initially been between simply the USA and Nice Britain and Eire, nevertheless it expanded to incorporate all of Europe in 1979, making Ballesteros and different golf legends eligible.

It took a few occasions for Crew Europe to turn out to be a pressure, however because the 1985 Ryder Cup, Crew Europe is 13-6-1 and simply gained back-to-back Cups.

Seve Ballesteros of Spain with an iron shot in the course of the 112th Open Championship on July 14, 1983, on the Royal Birkdale Golf Membership in Southport, United Kingdom. (David Cannon/Allsport/Getty Photos)

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This previous September's win at Bethpage Black was the primary repeat since Europe had gained three straight from 2010 to 2014, and it was additionally the primary "street victory" since Europe retained the Cup with a dramatic Sunday comeback in 2012 at Medinah, the primary since Ballesteros' loss of life. Fellow Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal was the crew captain, whereas the crew wore splashes of navy blue and white on the ultimate day to pay tribute.

In actual fact, Ballesteros is the rationale Rory McIlroy realized he was "improper" concerning the Ryder Cup, which he as soon as known as an "exhibition."

"I obtained into that crew room at Celtic Manor (in 2010) and I simply noticed how a lot it meant to everybody. I type of began, I used to be like, perhaps I obtained this improper…" McIlroy informed reporters back at Bethpage . "I keep in mind Seve [Ballesteros] was sick, and we had him on a type of convention name issues again within the day. He is chatting with the crew, and we're all within the crew room. That is on the Wednesday or Thursday night time. And I go searching and the vast majority of the crew is crying as Seve is speaking to us.

Seve Ballesteros places on the Inexperienced Jacket in the course of the 1983 Masters Event at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership on April 11, 1983, in Augusta, Georgia. (Augusta Nationwide/Getty Photos)

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"And I am like, that is it. That is the embodiment of what the European Ryder Cup Crew is. I feel that was the second, that convention name with Seve in 2010, was the second for me."