Marking the first anniversary since Seve Ballesteros lost his battle with brain cancer, celebrities from the world of sport and entertainment have united to launch the first ever ‘Seve Day’ – a European-wide golf tournament set up by YourGolfTravel.com, in partnership with the Seve Ballesteros Foundation and Cancer Research UK.
Celebrities including pro golfer Justin Rose, Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, former footballer and England manager Kevin Keegan, and Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp, have all committed to support Seve Day which starts on July 1 2012 – paying tribute to Seve’s first Major title at The Open in 1979.
Seve Day hopes to attract thousands of participants and raise significant funds for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation which, in partnership with Cancer ResearchUK, funds vital research into brain cancer.
Justin Rose said: “Seve has been a hero to me all my life. Seve’s style of play continues to inspire me, and golfers all over the world, but there will never be another Seve. Seve Day in aid of the Seve Ballesteros Foundation gives golfers everywhere the chance to ‘play like Seve’ in his memory, while raising vital funds for brain cancer. I’ll be playing in Seve Day and I encourage golfers everywhere to show their support and play too.”
A star-studded grand final will be held at Celtic Manor’s championship 2010 course in October 2012, just after the Ryder Cup, where the top 72 Stableford score entrants will play for big prizes and the Seve Day 2012 trophy.
Ross Marshall, co-founder of YourGolfTravel.com, said: “Seve Ballesteros was, and still is, such an inspirational figure in European golf. We wanted to create an event that he would have been proud of, a tournament that would capture his very golfing essence; great camaraderie, brilliant shot making, courage under pressure and all round excellence on the golf course. Golfers will have to play the greatest round of their life to make the final, just the way that Seve would have wanted it!”
Ivan Ballesteros, Seve’s nephew and Vice President of the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of Seve Day 2012, which we hope will be a huge success in our aim to raise money for brain cancer research.
“Golfers acrossEuropewill all have their own favourite memories of Seve and this event gives them a chance to remember his brilliance, and support a cause that was very close to his heart.”
Seve Day www.seveday.com