Gary Player now tells the big weakness Seve Ballesteros had in his golf game, ‘he had no idea’

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There is a very good reason why someone like Charley Hull would pick out Seve Ballesteros as her favourite golfer growing up, despite the fact that his career at the highest level was largely over before the LPGA star was even born.

Seve Ballesteros is one of the players who inspired more golfers than probably anyone could realise. His imagination meant that he could never be written off, no matter how much trouble he put himself in.

Meanwhile, it is probably an understatement to say that he played such an important role in shaping how Europe view the Ryder Cup. It says everything that he remains Europe’s talisman more than 14 years after his untimely death.

Phil Mickelson credited Ballesteros as his idol, while Charley Hull said the Spaniard was her favourite golfer growing up. Hull was born a year after Ballesteros’ final win on the European Tour.

Gary Player suggests the part of the game that Seve Ballesteros knew so little about

Interestingly, it seems that Ballesteros was not too interested in the technical aspects of the game.

Of course, some of the most iconic shots he has hit came after he left himself in a position most golfers would not hesitate to label unplayable.

But speaking on The Golf Supply, Gary Player suggested that the five-time major champion was not someone you would find grinding on the range, working on the mechanics of his swing.

“Do you know who knew the least about a golf swing? Ballesteros. I played with him at Troon as a young man, he was not even a 10 handicap,” he said.

“He had no idea what he was doing. No idea! But he had the greatest feel of any man that ever lived. He was so good from 50 yards in, he was as good as anybody who ever lived. I don’t know who the best is but he was as good as anybody. But hitting fairways all over the place.

“If you don’t have the knowledge you are limited, you are really limited.”

The majors Seve Ballesteros won during his incredible career

Ballesteros’ legend will continue to grow, particularly with his story being so integral to the European team at the Ryder Cup each year. He seems to unite the side in a way few figures would be able to – perhaps with the exception of Jose Maria Olazabal.

Ballesteros was one of the biggest superstars of European golf. He finished ahead of Jack Nicklaus to win his first major title at the 1979 Open Championship.

Meanwhile, he became the first European to win The Masters the following year. He would win one more Green Jacket while he would lift the Claret Jug on two more occasions.

Clearly, it would be unfair to pretend that he was completely unreliable off the tee during his career. But it would certainly be hard to argue with the idea that no golfer has had quite the talent when producing a shot that no one would have thought was even possible.