Golf: Ballesteros again in hot water

By Monday morning, the longest-running, continually-sponsored golf tournament in Europe, the Benson and Hedges International, will have been stubbed out.

It is doubtful whether the same can be said for controversies involving Seve Ballesteros.

The great Spaniard reached the fag-end of his career last weekend at the Italian Open when he refused to accept a penalty shot for slow play.

He altered his scorecard not to include the penalty and was disqualified for signing off a wrong score.

Ballesteros has improved his play this year, but not his relationship with authority. He had a blazing row with a tournament director in a carpark in Madeira, and in Italy he launched a hysterical attack on the way the European Tour was run.

It was not the first time Ballesteros had let fly emotionally, but not accepting a referee's decision sets an appalling example.

Both aspects of the affair are sure to be discussed at a Tournament Committee meeting in Germany next week, when there will probably be calls for the Spaniard to be fined.

"I don't know what action will be taken," said German great Bernhard Langer, who will be at the meeting.

"The Tour can't be seen to have incidents like this every week.

"Seve has been, and should continue to be, an example for the young guys, who all look up to him."

Langer was involved with Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Jose Maria Olazabal in getting the European Tour's books scrutinised in 2000, but he told executive director Ken Schofield that, unlike Seve, he did not feel victimised.

Sam Torrance, also a member of the committee, said: "For Seve to think that the Tour is out to get him is beyond belief.

"No one is against him. He made the Tour. He was our Arnold Palmer."

Padraig Harrington added: "All the players on the Tour think of Seve as a hero.

"He seems to be fighting a battle against himself. It's a pity. Any golfer would give his right arm for his career ... "

Fellow Irishman Paul McGinley said: "Slow play is getting more and more tedious. It is rare for someone to be penalised, but it should happen more often."

The Government ban on tobacco sponsorship has meant the end of a popular event after 33 years.


- INDEPENDENT