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 vanished from his hometown of Pedrena in the Cantabria region, according to city officials. Spanish authorities have launched an investigation after the town council of the larger Marina de Cudeyo municipality posted on Instagram that the ‘unfortunate incident’ over the weekend suggests the statue was stolen. The council has urged the public for assistance, stating, ‘If anyone has seen suspicious activity, especially within the last 24 hours, please notify the Guardia Civil or local police.’
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The life-sized bronze statue captures the moment of Ballesteros’s victory at the 1984 Open Championship in St. Andrews. In the final round, Ballesteros was trailing Tom Watson but managed to turn the game around, winning by two strokes and securing the Claret Jug, denying Watson a third consecutive Open title.
Severiano Ballesteros: One of European Golf’s Greatest Figures
The bronze statue honors the Spaniard Severiano Ballesteros, who as a player and later as captain of the European Ryder Cup team contributed to four victories. His professional career highlights began at 19, becoming runner-up to Jack Nicklaus at the 1976 Open Championship. Ballesteros won three Open Championships (1979, 1984, and 1988) and two Masters titles (1980 and 1983). He received numerous awards, including 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