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Roberto
De Vicenzo To Induct Seve Ballesteros
ST. AUGUSTINE,
Fla. -- Seve Ballesteros has announced that Argentinean World Golf Hall
of Fame member Roberto De Vicenzo will introduce the Spaniard at this year’s
Induction Ceremony scheduled for March 22 at World Golf Village.
Ballesteros was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame through the International
Ballot in 1996 but deferred his induction until this year. Ballesteros joins
Lloyd Mangrum, who will be inducted posthumously, as the two newest members of
golf’s elite. Mangrum was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame through the
PGA Tour Ballot in 1998.
“I met Roberto back in 1976 during the (British) Open Championship week of that
year,” said Ballesteros. “I felt very honored to play a few practice rounds with
him, as I had admired him since childhood. During the Open Championship he treated
me with the same fondness and affection as a father would treat his own son.
Furthermore, he gave me several pieces of advice which proved very useful later
on during my career.”
De Vicenzo turned professional in 1938 when he was just 15 years old. He joined
the PGA Tour in 1947 and collected nine tour victories. A truly international
champion, De Vicenzo won over 200 tournaments worldwide including the 1967 British
Open Championship and the inaugural U.S. Senior Open at Winged Foot in 1980.
Although often remembered for his mistake signing an incorrect scorecard at the
1968 Masters, De Vicenzo’s true legacy is carried through the many friends he
made while traveling the globe as an ambassador for the game.
With the 1999 Induction Ceremony, De Vicenzo makes his first visit to the new
World Golf Hall of Fame that opened to the public in May 1998 with the re-induction
of the membership from the former Hall of Fame located in Pinehurst, N.C. Due
to illness, De Vicenzo was unable to join the 23 legends of golf who returned
for the inaugural ceremony and the induction of Nick Faldo and Johnny Miller.
“The World Golf Hall of Fame may be in the United States, but it truly represents
the entire world,” said De Vicenzo. “I am honored that my young longtime friend,
Seve Ballesteros, has asked me to introduce him when he is inducted.”
The 1999 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is part of “Two Weeks of
Great Golf!” for North Florida.
This year the Senior PGA Tour’s Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf makes its new
home at World Golf Village where the tournament will be held at The Slammer and
The Squire March 15-21. After the World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,
the focus will shift to the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass for The Players
Championship March 22-28.
TRW
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