Real Club de Golf El Prat was awash with navy blue and white as the DP World Tour paid tribute to the late, great Seve Ballesteros on day one of the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship.<\/p>\n
The trailblazing Spaniard \u2013 winner of a record 50 DP World Tour events \u2013 passed away on May 7,\u00a02011\u00a0and on the 15th\u00a0anniversary of that sad day, players\u00a0across all global tours were invited to wear his signature colours.<\/p>\n
Ballesteros\u2019 son Javier and brother Manuel were in attendance as Seve was honoured on the first tee, with a picture of the five-time Major champion overlooking the competitors as they got their rounds under way.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday is a special day, for better or for worse, because it\u2019s been many years since he passed away,” said Javier. “However, the fact that he is still being remembered on a golf course and at a tournament in Spain is very special. We are very proud and very grateful.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very happy to have experienced what we\u2019ve experienced today and to see the players dressed like my father. The idea came from me and was very well received by Miguel Vidaor, the Tournament Director. We also knew that the tribute had to be on the golf course, just as he would have liked. The truth is, I\u2019m very happy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat such young players, just joining the Tour, continue to see Seve as their idol even though they never got to know him is incredible. Above all, I\u2019d highlight Jon Rahm – not just because he\u2019s such a great player, but because so many times, one of the first things he\u2019s done after winning a tournament has been to remember my father, even though he barely got to see him play. I imagine his father and mother must have instilled a bit of Seve in him, but it\u2019s very touching and makes us feel very proud.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Angel) Ayora was wearing my father\u2019s logo on his chest today, and as he himself said when making a difficult shot, he didn\u2019t know if it was him or Seve who had done it\u2026 even if it\u2019s just because he thinks about it sometimes, I\u2019m sure it helps him mentally; it certainly doesn\u2019t hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Born in 1957, Seve was just 19 when he won his first DP World title and between then and his last in 1995, he would rack up another 48 including two Masters Tournaments and three Opens.<\/p>\n
He also played in eight Ryder Cups, winning three, and was the victorious\u00a0captain\u00a0on home\u00a0soil\u00a0at Valderrama\u00a0in 1997.<\/p>\n
His death at the age of 54 after a battle with brain cancer came on the third day of the\u00a0Open de Espa\u00f1a at El Prat and as well as players wearing his colours, there are a host of other tributes taking place.<\/p>\n
From Monday to Thursday, the flags on holes nine and 18 will be dedicated to Seve, and from Friday onwards the flag on hole five will represent his Major victories at The Open (1979, 1984 and 1988) and Masters (1980 and 1983).<\/p>\n
Teeing off in the morning chill, Rocco Repetto Taylor had chance to wear the famous navy sweater<\/p>\n