Golfer Ballesteros confirms he has a brain tumour

Spanish golfer Seve Ballesteros has vowed to fight his brain tumour with the same battling spirit that he showed throughout his extraordinary career.

London, Oct.13 : Spanish golfer Seve Ballesteros has vowed to fight his brain tumour with the same battling spirit that he showed throughout his extraordinary career.

"Throughout my career I have been among the best at overcoming challenges on the golf course. Now, I want to be the best confronting the hardest challenge of my life, with all my strength, counting on all of you who are sending me encouraging messages," The Telegraph quoted Ballesteros, as saying.'"Once I had been able to inform my three children personally and their mother, I can now communicate to you the illness I am suffering from. After an in-depth check up which has been carried out on me in the La Paz Hospital, they have detected a brain tumor. I have always shown my solidarity with those people who face illness, including those whose [illnesses] are much worse than mine. Now my wish is to ask for respect towards my family and my children. We will keep you informed," he added.Ballesteros, who was also admitted to a hospital last year when doctors discovered an irregular heartbeat, is one of the most colourful characters ever to grace the game. His swashbuckling style saw him claim the 1979 Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes after a shot from a parking lot next to the 16th fairway. He added two more Open championships and the Masters twice before retiring last year due to a long history of back pain.

ANI