Bernard Gallacher described Seve Ballesteros as "Europe's best ever player" after the Spaniard died at the age of 54.
O'Grady admits it is a "very sad day for golf" after death of legend
Bernard Gallacher has led the tributes to Seve Ballesteros, describing him as "Europe's" best ever player", after the Spaniard passed away.
Ballesteros died at his home in Pedrena in the early hours of Saturday morning after a two-and-a-half year battle against a brain tumour. He was 54.
Gallacher, who captained the five-time major winner in three Ryder Cups between 1991 and 1995, is in no doubt that the man helped inspire some of Europe's current crop of stars with his achievements on the course.
"You can't speak too highly of him, Seve was Europe's best ever player," Gallacher told
Sky Sports News HD.
"Seve's best golf was played in the 1980s but he was still inspiring this new generation of golfers - the Martin Kaymers, the Ross Fishers, we've heard from Lee Westwood how as a young boy he would watch Seve and everyone would want to copy and emulate Seve.
"Every European Tour player today should thank Seve for what they're playing for. America had Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer - Seve was our Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus rolled into one."
Ryder memories
The Ryder Cup was particularly special to Ballesteros; he captained Europe to glory on home soil at Valderrama in 1997.
He also delivered an inspirational telephone message to Colin Montgomerie's victorious team at Celtic Manor last year, having not been fit enough to travel to Wales.
"He felt it was his duty as the best player in the world to inspire the European team," Gallacher added.
"When I became captain in 1991 he was still one of the best players in the world and he former a formidable partnership with Olazabal, virtually unbeatable."
World number one Lee Westwood wrote on
Twitter: "It's a sad day, lost an inspiration, genius, role model, hero and friend. Seve made European golf what it is today. RIP Seve."
Ballesteros' fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia added: "He was a game-changer. To come from where he did and do what he did was amazing."
Tiger Woods also used
Twitter to express his sadness at the passing of a man who he described as "one of the most talented and exciting golfers to ever play the game".
"I always enjoyed spending time with him at the champions dinner each year at the Masters," the American said on the social networking website.
"I was deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Seve Ballesteros. I always enjoyed spending time with him at the Champions dinner each year at the Masters," he said on Twitter.
"Seve was one of the most talented and exciting golfers to ever play the game.
"His creativity and inventiveness on the golf course may never be surpassed.
His death came much too soon."
Blessed
European Tour chief executive George O'Grady admitted he felt "blessed" to have been around in Ballesteros' era.
"This is such a very sad day for all who love golf," he said. "Seve's unique legacy must be the inspiration he has given to so many to watch, support, and play golf, and finally to fight a cruel illness with equal flair, passion, and fierce determination.
"We have all been so blessed to live in his era. He was the inspiration behind The European Tour."
The flags at Real Club de Golf El Prat were flown at half-mast in Ballesteros' memory for Saturday's third round of the Spanish Open, while the players wore wear black ribbons and also observed a minute's silence.
