For the love of the game
Last updated: 2nd September 2007
Seve announces his retirement at the 2007 Open
Golf Night
Thursday to Sunday
On Sky Sports
Seve Ballesteros is one of golf's most loved and flamboyant players.
Last month he finally retired from the game that he loves, the game the he mastered and the game that made him a wealthy man.
But as he told Golf Night this week, he never really played for the money, only the love of the game and he wonders if today's professional is being ruined by winning too much prize money too early in their careers.
"I think the players practice harder now than ever and I see the players really exercise more. They are more athletic and stronger.
"This is all about because the competition is gettin tougher and there is a lot of money out there and it is very difficult to become a superstar because everybody is getting closer and closer to each other.
"The only thing that I think is hurting some of the players is that they become rich very quickly. As soon as they make their money, they start thinking about buying a new car, the Porsche, the Ferrari or whatever. I think that is one thing that is not good.
"You have to focus on your career, on your record and don't worry the money. There is always time to count the money later on. I remember after I won three majors I was still going from my house to the course on a bicycle.
"Some of the people now, they go in the Ferrari, the Porsche or they have a private plane, which I think that is good (for them) but on the other hand they probably have lost the desire and the hunger of winning.
"I never thought about winning money when I was playing. That is one thing that Roberto de Vicenzo taught me early in my career. He said: 'You have golden hands, you are going to make a lot of money but don't stop to count your money. Keep going'.
"That is good advice."
- Video
Comments
Dennis Cope says...
Like all sports people money breeds arogance. They earn more in one year than most people earn in a lifetime. We are to blame for spupporting this not only in golf but in every sport from football,Baseball,basketball,NFl.Hockey I could go on and on but why bother. Stop supporting the events then the payout or salaries would have no choice but be lowered. Do they care about the public I think not try talking to some of them and for the most part they look down at you and do not give you the time of day.
Posted 22:45 4th September 2007
Add Comment*
All fields are required