“Some people have claimed that I opted to play in Europe more than in the United States because I received appearance fees from the European Tour. This is not true. The basic reason was that I felt more at ease in Europe. It is the environment I am familiar with.”

Spanish professional golfer

Severiano Ballesteros Sota was a Spanish professional golfer, active from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s. He became World No. 1 and was one of the leading figures in the sport during that period. He won 89 international tournaments, including five major championships between 1979 and 1988. He claimed The Open Championship three times and the Masters Tournament twice. He first drew wide attention in 1976, when he finished second at The Open at age 19. He also played a major part in the revival of European golf and helped the European Ryder Cup team to five wins as both a player and captain.