A bronze statue of golf legend Severiano ‘Seve’ Ballesteros has disappeared from his hometown. Authorities are investigating the theft.
A life-sized bronze statue of the Spanish golf legend Severiano ‘Seve’ Ballesteros, erected in 2009, has gone missing from his hometown Pedrena in the Cantabria region of Spain, according to the city. Spanish authorities have launched an investigation after the council of the larger municipality Marina de Cudeyo announced on Instagram that the ‘unfortunate event’ over the weekend suggests the bronze statue was stolen. The municipality’s council has called on the public for assistance in the investigation: ‘If anyone has noticed suspicious movements, especially in the last 24 hours, please notify the Guardia Civil or the local police.’
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The life-sized bronze statue captures the moment of Ballesteros’ victory at the Open Championship at St. Andrews in 1984. Ballesteros was trailing Tom Watson in the final round but managed to turn the game around, winning by two strokes and securing the Claret Jug, denying American Watson a third consecutive Open title.
Severiano Ballesteros: One of European Golf’s Greatest Figures
The bronze statue honored Spaniard Severiano Ballesteros, who contributed to four Ryder Cup victories as a player and later as captain of the European team. His professional career successes began at age 19 when he finished runner-up to Jack Nicklaus at the 1976 Open Championship. Ballesteros won a total of three Open Championships (1979, 1984, and 1988) and the Masters in 1980 and 1983. He received numerous awards (Golfer of the Year), was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1999, and was named European Player of the Century in 2000. Ballesteros holds the record for 50 European Tour victories. He passed away in 2011 at age 54 from a brain tumor.
The statue was created in 2009 by Spanish sculptor Salvador Garcia Ceballos and permanently installed in the La Barqueria Park in 2017.