 Ballesteros won the Masters in 1980 and 1983 |
Seve Ballesteros has pulled out of next month's Masters because of back pain. The two-time Augusta champion has played in every event since he was first invited as a 19-year-old in 1977, winning the title in 1980 and 1983.
"He has suffered from back pain for a long time," said the 46-year-old's nephew Ivan Ballesteros.
"But it was during his build-up to the Masters at the Doral golf resort in Miami that the pain grew unbearable. He has now flown back to Spain."
Ballesteros had been hoping to tee off in his 28th straight Masters on 8 April but his on-going back pain intensified in Florida.
He had received exemptions to the Ford Championship at Doral and the Bay Hill Invitational, but had to withdraw from both.
The five-time major winner clinched his last tournament victory in the 1995 Spanish Open.
But he has not made the cut at the Masters on his last seven visits, and had his worst-ever score, an 85, in the second round last April.
The European Ryder Cup legend will be providing expert analysis of the Masters for BBC Sport.
MMIX
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