By Matt Slater Golf editor

When Seve Ballesteros teed off on day one of the 44th Masters in 1980, he was in fine form and full of confidence.

Born: 9 April, 1957 (Pedrena, Spain) Turned pro: 1974 Worldwide wins: 87 Majors: five (three Opens, two Masters) Ryder Cups: nine appearances (one as captain), 20/37 points

The Spaniard had won the Open the previous year and at the age of just 23, was already a three-time European number one.

Balancing those grounds for hope, however, were Ballesteros' youth and 43 years of European under-achievement at Augusta.

What followed changed the Masters and European golf forever.

Four spectacular rounds later, Augusta was toasting its youngest champion, a generation of young golfers had a new hero and Ballesteros was hailed as the best player on the planet.

His dashing, cavalier style thrilled the galleries and watching television audience, and brought him a Masters record 23 birdies and one eagle.

Long off the tee, the aggressive Ballesteros visited parts of the Augusta National course not usually seen by successful professionals. But armed with an escapologist's knack for extrication and a pickpocket's touch around the greens, no situation that week was irredeemable.

Just competing at the Masters is very special - it's a great feeling Seve Ballesteros Ballesteros' 2004 predictions

Speaking to BBC Sport before the 2004 Masters, Ballesteros said: "I remember I was playing very well coming into the tournament. I was very confident.

"When I look back at my whole career I would say that the 1980 Masters was my best performance in the majors. I was 10 shots ahead with nine to play. I dominated.

"The Masters is special because it's not easy to get into the tournament, it's a very small field.

"Augusta is also a unique course. It demands every aspect of the game, and you need to know the course very well. There isn't an easy shot on the course."

While the 23-year-old's wire-to-wire triumph might not have received the acclaim it deserved in his native Spain, it had an enormous impact on the golf-playing public, particularly in Europe.

Ballesteros (second from right) with the men his victories inspired

Prior to 1980, only South African Gary Player had broken the American stranglehold at Augusta. Starting in 1980, European golfers, including Ballesteros again in 1983, won 11 of the next 20 titles.

This remarkable run of success at a quintessentially American course stands in marked contrast to Europe's record in the two other American majors - a return of one victory since 1930.

But looking ahead to this year's event, Ballesteros, who turns 47 on the Friday of Masters week, is unconvinced Europe will capture its first Green Jacket since his Spanish prot�g� Jose Maria Olazabal triumphed in 1999.

"I don't see many Europeans with a good chance because at the moment they are not playing very well," he said.

"To win there you need to be long, you need to be a good iron player, and you need to have a good short game and a hot putter.

"I see only three guys: Ernie Els, Tiger Woods and Davis Love III."

Sadly, there will be no chance this year of a third victory for Ballesteros, as he is missing his first Masters for 27 years.

Detours from the beaten path were always part of the Seve experience

"A bad back means I haven't played a tournament all year, and I haven't even been able to practise for the last month," he said.

"I've had treatment, and it would mean a lot to play, but it's not going to happen."

So while Augusta's patrons will not witness another Ballesteros birdie blitz, BBC viewers will be able to enjoy the great man's expertise as part of the television commentary team.

It is perhaps fitting that the man who did so much to make the Masters what it is, particularly on this side of the Atlantic, should introduce a new generation of fans and players to Augusta's unique charms.