Seve Ballesteros's life and career in pictures

Seve Ballesteros turned professional in March 1974 at the age of 16
Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images

Ballesteros announced himself to the world at the 1976 Open Championship where he finished runner-up to Johnny Miller
Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images

Three years later, Ballesteros would win the Open Championship for the first time at Royal Lytham & St Annes
Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images

A year later, in 1980, Ballesteros won the Masters at Augusta, taking the famous green jacket
Photograph: Augusta National/Getty Images

Ballesteros would repeat his Augusta win three years later, in 1983
Photograph: Augusta National/Getty Images

Ballesteros punches the air in celebration after adding his second Open Championship title at St Andrews in 1984 Photograph: Getty

In 1985 Ballesteros became part of the first ever victorious Team Europe side in the Ryder Cup. Here he sprays team captain Tony Jacklin with champagne as Bernhard Langer and Sam Torrance look on Photograph: Getty Images

Ballesteros claimed his third and final Open Championship title in 1988 at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

Ballesteros shakes hands in celebration with partner José María Olazábal at the 1991 Ryder Cup. The pair would dominate their opponents throughout the tournament, but Team Europe still lost
Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images

Ballesteros practises on the beach near his home in Pedrena, Spain, in February 1996 Photograph: Getty

Named as Europe's captain for the 1997 Ryder Cup, Ballesteros led his team to a win on home soil at the Valderrama Golf Club in Spain Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images

Ballesteros looks for a way out of the bunkers during the 1999 Volvo Masters at the Montecastillo Golf Club in Jerez, Spain Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Chronic back pain would limit Ballesteros to just nine tournaments in 2002, but he did find time to get a tattoo of himself celebrating his 1984 Open Championship win Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

In 2006 Ballesteros entered the Open Championship for the first time in five years, but failed to make the cut Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

A year later, in 2007, Ballesteros would announce his retirement from golf at a press conference during previews of The Open Championship Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images