Cannot play media. Sorry, this media is not available in your territory.

Archive - Seve career retrospective

Seve Ballesteros has been discharged from hospital after undergoing his fourth brain operation.

The 51-year-old had a tumour removed in November, then had a valve inserted to drain fluid from his brain and surgery to repair a bone defect on 2 December.

He left La Paz hospital in Madrid on Tuesday morning but will continue to be treated there as an outpatient.

"There is a long recovery time ahead and I shall keep fighting with patience and determination," he said.

On a statement on his website, he paid tribute to the medical staff and the care he had received at the hospital.

"Thanks to them I will be able to play the mulligan of my life, which I expect to enjoy at my best," he said.

"Occasionally I was a rebel patient and therefore I ask them to forgive me and thank everyone for all the cares received."

The five-time major winner was diagnosed with a tumour in October and has had three operations to remove it.

Ballesteros was allowed home after the third one but doctors warned there was still some way to go in his recovery.

The Spaniard won 87 titles during his career, including the Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and the Masters in 1980 and 1983.

606: DEBATE Leave your messages for Seve

He retired from golf last year following arthritic back and knee problems, while doctors discovered an irregular heartbeat when he was admitted to hospital in 2007.

But he admitted that his current medical problems presented the hardest challenge of his life.

"When you fight with faith and persistency you can overcome whichever drawback you come across. Our mind is stronger than we imagine," he added.

"Just as I always did in my professional life, visualising success helps achieve ones targets however impossible they seem.

"I am a believer and will continue thinking positively to defeat the illness I suffer and encourage those who are going through something similar to do it with the same determination as myself."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version