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Ballestros vents fury at disqualification
Gardagolf, May 04: Seve Ballesteros launched an angry attack on the European PGA Tour after being disqualified from the Italian Open because of a dispute over a one-stroke penalty.
Gardagolf, May 04: Seve Ballesteros launched an angry attack on the European PGA Tour after being disqualified from the Italian Open because of a dispute over a one-stroke penalty.
The Spaniard was handed the penalty for twice taking too long to play tee shots during the third round of the tournament. His second indiscretion brought up the penalty but, after he refused to accept it, he was disqualified from taking part in the remainder of the event.
"Ten years ago I could have taken a minute-and-a-half to play one shot and it was okay but I am not important any more for the tour," said Ballesteros.
The Spaniard said he was being picked on because in 2000 he was one of a group of four players who had questioned the way the Tour was run and demanded more information on its finances.
He also claimed the tour was trying to bring about the demise of the annual Seve Trophy. "It's a personal problem from the past," Ballesteros said. "It's a war and this is the continuation of that. I have two things to do - go home and disappear or go and play in America."
European Tour chief referee John Paramor defended his decision to disqualify the Spaniard after Ballesteros carded a 75 instead of a 76. "It upsets you when you have to do it to your hero," said Paramor. "I said to Seve 'I just wanted to make sure that he had included the penalty, I didn't want you to get disqualified,' and he rubbed out the five and wrote a four.
"He said that was what he took on the hole and did not want to include the penalty stroke. He then left the recording area and unfortunately left me no option but to disqualify him for a score lower than actually taken."
Bureau Report
The Spaniard was handed the penalty for twice taking too long to play tee shots during the third round of the tournament. His second indiscretion brought up the penalty but, after he refused to accept it, he was disqualified from taking part in the remainder of the event.
"Ten years ago I could have taken a minute-and-a-half to play one shot and it was okay but I am not important any more for the tour," said Ballesteros.
The Spaniard said he was being picked on because in 2000 he was one of a group of four players who had questioned the way the Tour was run and demanded more information on its finances.
He also claimed the tour was trying to bring about the demise of the annual Seve Trophy. "It's a personal problem from the past," Ballesteros said. "It's a war and this is the continuation of that. I have two things to do - go home and disappear or go and play in America."
European Tour chief referee John Paramor defended his decision to disqualify the Spaniard after Ballesteros carded a 75 instead of a 76. "It upsets you when you have to do it to your hero," said Paramor. "I said to Seve 'I just wanted to make sure that he had included the penalty, I didn't want you to get disqualified,' and he rubbed out the five and wrote a four.
"He said that was what he took on the hole and did not want to include the penalty stroke. He then left the recording area and unfortunately left me no option but to disqualify him for a score lower than actually taken."
Bureau Report