When Edinburgh golfing super-fan and low handicap player Kenny Reid sat in the St Andrews stands watching the denouement of the 1984 Open Championship the day before his 15th birthday little could he has known the occasion would have echoes 40 years on.
But the moment his idol, the late, much lamented, Seve Ballesteros, stroked in the winning putt Kenny was set on a journey to find out more about the swashbuckling Spaniard, who died in 2011 aged just 54, particularly why he was so popular and relatable.
Now those findings have been set to print with “Seve Ballesteros’s Touch of Class”.
Kenny who, 14 years ago, won massive acclaim for a book encompassing trips to golf’s four major championships entitled “Major Obsession” said: “I have such a vivid recollection about watching Seve win the 1984 Open that I had to get to the nub of why he was so popular.”
The tome is largely subjective and he was dealt a blow when, after contacting Nick De Paul in Philadelphia, Seve’s former caddy died before they could hook up as arranged.
Kenny decided to do his own investigation including three trips to Pedrena where Seve learned the game, playing his home course, visiting a room dedicated to the maestro and his five majors among 90 international titles, and generally soaking up atmosphere without ever letting on why he was there.
He concluded: “Seve was the last natural golfer, an artist, so creative. He wore his heart on his sleeve.
“But even his own autobiography had only three pages on that win at the Old Course in St Andrews and there have been four biogs none of which really which really told me why so many loved him.
“It’s taken me a while to put the book together but, who knows, I already have a few ideas for another one charting Seve’s career perhaps with emphasis on his Ryder Cup career?”
“Seve Ballesteros’s Touch of Class” is out now from Pitch Publishing, priced £25.
Evergreen sports journalist. Previously published in many publications around the world. Send me your local sports stories. billlothian1008@gmail.com
