Seve Endures Fourth Chemo Session


For the first time since he was diagnosed with brain cancer six months ago, Seve Ballesteros talked at length about his recovery and hopes afterwards. In the second part of an interview published Wednesday in the Spanish sports daily Marca, Ballesteros said his main objective is to get back to normal. After that, his dream is to open a golf course near his hometown in northern Spain.

"My first hope is to recuperate normally," Ballesteros said. "After that, a course in Santander. That has been my dream for a long time."

Thinking back on his career as a golfer, the five-time major winner said: "I have always considered myself to be more of an artist than a player. I think I can say that I have done some very special things on the course, things that even today, I don't think any player has done."

In the first part published Tuesday, an emotional Ballesteros spoke of his battle against cancer. "This is the most important shot of my life. I'm fighting to win my sixth major," said the five-time major winner. "Life has given me a second chance."

The newspaper said Ballesteros was frequently overcome by emotion as he discussed his recovery. He began his fourth round of chemotherapy on Saturday after undergoing four separate surgeries earlier. "I'm not called Seve Ballesteros, I'm called Seve Mulligan because I've had the luck to be given a mulligan, which in golf is a second chance," he said. "I've been given the mulligan of my life. The proof is that I'm alive, that I can do things, that I speak, I'm perfectly able to reason."

In the second interview, Ballesteros spoke more of his interest in other sports and athletes, including Lance Armstrong, who survived a fight against testicular cancer before winning a record seven Tour de France titles. "Lance Armstrong! Besides, he's my cycling idol," said Ballesteros. "Naturally, I've always liked Miguel Indurain, and Carlos Sastre. ... I'm a fan of all the Spaniards, but Lance has a very special story."

Fellow Spaniard and top-ranked tennis star Rafael Nadal also earned special praise from Ballesteros. "He's a phenomenon, he's a fantastic reference point on and off the courts. He's the best we have as an ambassador of sports for all kids."

Now on a diet consisting of only fish and vegetables, Ballesteros told Marca he has lost 33 pounds since being admitted to the hospital. He now weighs 165 pounds - the same as when he won his first Masters at age 23.

Ballesteros won a record 50 times on the European Tour. He also has three British Open trophies and two green jackets for his Masters' wins. He had a 20-12-5 record in eight appearances at the Ryder Cup and was the captain for the European Team for its win in 1997.