Ballesteros

HARRISON, N.Y. -- While golf's great international stars faded and failed in the stretch run yesterday, Billy Andrade siezed command and went on to his second consecutive PGA Tour victory."

Ballesteros stable after brain tumor surgery golf Seve Ballesteros was in stable condition yesterday in Madrid, Spain, after the golf great, 51, had surgery on a brain tumor a day earlier. La Paz hospital said there were no complications from the surgery. Spanish state news agency Efe reported the operation lasted 12 hours. The hospital said a sizable part of the Spaniard's tumor was removed. It was not immediately known whether it was malignant, and it would be several days before the results were announced.

SPRING HAS always been the most depressing time of year, as it signals the beginning of the golf season.All over my neighborhood, men in bright green pants and canary yellow sweaters are loading huge golf bags into the trunks of their cars and heading off to courses with names like Twin Lakes and Dripping Moss and so on.I watch them in the first gray light of dawn, their eyes reddened from lack of sleep, their hands trembling from 27 cups of coffee, gobbling...

VIRGINIA WATER, England -- Severiano Ballesteros equaled Gary Player's record of five World Match Play titles with a 10-birdie, no-bogey performance yesterday that gave him a 3-and-2 victory over Zimbabwe's Nick Price."

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- On Saturday night at Augusta National Golf Club, Bernhard Langer was talking about why foreign players in general and Europeans in particular have played well in recent years at The Masters.Foreigners have won seven of the past 11 Masters titles:Year ... Winner ...... ...... Country1983 ... Seve Ballesteros ... Spain1985 ... Bernhard Langer .... Germany1988 ... Sandy Lyle ......... England1989 ... Nick Faldo ......... England1990 ... Nick Faldo ......... England1991 ... Ian Woosnam .....

Phil Mickelson has planned enough Masters champions dinners around what he likes. For his third, he's bowing to others. Mickelson said his first thought was a tribute to Seve Ballesteros , whose first Masters win came 31 years ago and inspired a 9-year-old Mickelson to dream about a green jacket. Ballesteros has been unable to travel in recent years while battling brain cancer. "I sent him an e-mail saying if he were able to come and feeling healthy enough, I would love to have the dinner be something he would like — a Spanish dish of paella or whatever he thought would be appropriate," Mickelson said.

What: 55th Masters championship, today through Sunday.Site: Augusta National Golf Club.Yardage: 6,905.Par: 36-3672.Format: 72 holes (18 daily) stroke play.Playoff (if necessary): Sudden death.Probable starting field: 88 -- 66 American pros, 3 American amateurs, 17 foreign pros, 2 foreign amateurs.Defending champion: Nick Faldo.Former champions in field: Tommy Aaron, George Archer, Seve Ballesteros, Gay Brewer, Billy Casper, Charles Coody, Ben Crenshaw, Nick Faldo, Ray Floyd, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Larry Mize, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Craig Stadler, Tom Watson, Fuzzy Zoeller.

On October 22, 2005, CHARLES B. RAFFERTY JR., beloved husband of Maria U. (nee Ballesteros) Rafferty, father of Patrick M. and his wife Robin L. Rafferty and Thomas C. Rafferty, brother of Daniel I. Rafferty and Sr. Betty Anne Rafferty, S.B.S.. Friends may call at ELINE FUNERAL HOME, 11824 Reisterstown Rd. (at Franklin Blvd) on Monday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Church, on Tuesday at 11 A.M. Interment Druid Ridge Cemetery. Those desiring, please make contributions to St. Charles Borromeo Church, 101 Church Lane, Pikesville, MD 21208.

SOTOGRANDE, Spain -- Tom Kite went for compatibility. Seve Ballesteros went with experience. And, starting today here at the Valderrama Golf Club, their 12-man teams are going after the same prize: possession of the treasured Ryder Cup.The captains of the U.S. and European teams announced some interesting pairings yesterday for this morning's four-ball matches and, for the Americans, there was one particularly surprising move: British Open champion Justin...