Why Seve will never compete again despite Norman's heroics

At 51, the legendary five times major champion is two years younger than Norman, but Ballesteros stayed away from the course where he announced his arrival in world golf as a 19-year-old by finishing runner-up to Johnny Miller in 1976.

Master: Seve Ballesteros

Ballesteros, troubled by back problems and a serious lack of form, said from his home in the village of Pedrena, northern Spain: 'Birkdale was where my name started to be popular and I can't explain all the feelings I keep in my heart of that time. But I wasn't tempted to come back.

'Everyone knows that I have retired for good. I will watch on TV and avoid yearning for the past. I won't ever play again in a major championship or on the Seniors Tour. When a player like myself quits competitive golf, he is gone for good. To participate as any other player does not appeal to me.'

Ballesteros, who won three Open titles among 87 worldwide victories which made him one of the greatest players ever, has not been part of the BBC TV commentary team for the past two years after failing to agree on his ideal role.

It is understood that the BBC wanted to use him as an on-course reporter while Ballesteros preferred to remain in the studio as a commentator. But his distinctive voice and muchimproved grasp of the English language may yet return to the airwaves. 'I'm delighted that my fans enjoyed my commentaries on BBC TV, but I cannot be linked to TV channels for ever,' he said. 'From time to time I enjoy being a commentator and I believe I will be doing it from time to time again.'

Ballesteros divides his time between seeing his three children, Baldomero,18, Miguel,16, and Carmen,14, and his golf course design business, while developing a career as a motivational speaker. He said: 'Golf was everything to me - today it is just part of my life.'