Seve Ballesteros will make his first appearance in a stroke play event for two years this week when he tees up in the Open de Madrid at Club de Campo in Spain’s Capital city.
The five times Major Champion has battled an arthritic back and knee problems to regain his fitness ready for his comeback, fittingly at the Club de Campo course where, in 1995, Ballesteros won the last of his 50 European Tour titles. It was also in this event, which he has won three times, that the legendary Spaniard last graced the fairways in stroke play competition.
Ballesteros subsequently played as Captain in the 2003 Seve Trophy at El Saler but it has taken two years for the 48 year old to feel comfortable enough to compete on The European Tour.
Whilst Ballesteros is sure to attract much of the attention, focus will also be on Colin Montgomerie as the Scot steps up his bid to win The European Tour Order of Merit for an eighth time, six years after his last success.
Montgomerie’s victory in the dunhill links championship at St Andrews and subsequent excellent performance in the World Golf Championships – American Express Championship in San Francisco have put him in the driving seat to claim the Harry Vardon Trophy.
This week he has another chance to steal a march on his main rival, the US Open Champion Michael Campbell, who is absent this week, before the final lap takes place at the Volvo Masters at Valderrama at the end of the month.
Not surprisingly the Spanish contingent is particularly strong for the Open de Madrid with Ballesteros joined by José Maria Olazábal, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Ignacio Garrido and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano along with a host of other home challengers.
In addition to Ballesteros and Olazábal, the field boasts Major Champions Paul Lawrie, Sandy Lyle and Europe’s 2006 Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam in an impressive line-up.
At this time of year there are a number of sub-plots running. There is the battle for the Number One spot on The European Tour Order of Merit with Montgomerie on a charge. For many players the goal is to get into the top 60 to earn a place in the season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama while a host of players will also be playing for the right to play on The European Tour next season as the race to finish in the top 115 reaches the penultimate event. All of which adds to an intriguing week in Club de Campo with plenty to play for.
