Seve targets Royal return

Spanish legend making good progress

Last updated: 7th January 2009

Ballesteros: underwent brain surgery

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Seve Ballesteros is planning to return to golf next year as captain of Europe's Royal Trophy team, according to his nephew Ivan Ballesteros.

The five-time major champion has started rehabilitation following brain surgery and is already looking ahead to his return to the professional game.

The 51-year-old Spaniard underwent several operations to remove a tumour late last year and is making solid progress in his recovery, Ivan Ballesteros said.

"He's very positive, he's walking every day, he's determined to get better," Ballesteros told Reuters.

"It's still too early to tell if he will play again but one of his goals is to be Europe captain at the Royal Trophy next year, and he's serious about it."

It was Ballesteros who drove his uncle to hospital the night Seve collapsed suddenly at Madrid airport in October.

"We all thought it was a nightmare," he added. "The worst was the third operation, we really didn't know if he would make it. It was like heads or tails."

Ballesteros' friend and former Ryder Cup teammate Jose Maria Olazabal will lead the European team at this weekend's Royal Trophy, which gets under way on Friday.