Seve. Until Tiger came along, arguably the most evocative single name in golf,
a name that conjures images of a dashing young Spaniard, eyes ablaze and
fists pumping, weaving outrageous magic on the way to three Open
Championships and two Masters titles in the 1970s and 1980s.
The record books note that it was Severiano Ballesteros who lifted those
trophies, but as with the likes of Pelé in football, no surname is
necessary. Seve will do nicely.
Was it just wishful thinking, then, that almost 22 years ago, a builder from
Surrey should name his son Seve in the hope that he may go on to emulate the
great man in years to come?
Why not Nick, as in Faldo, or Sandy, as in Lyle? Those names are, after all,
much more Home Counties, although, if truth be told, a little dull. So, Seve
Benson, of Guildford, it was to be.
And guess what? The young Seve has turned out to be rather a good golfer. It
is probably a combination of nature and nurture that has got him there, but
after only one year as a professional, Benson has earned the right to play
on the main European Tour in 2009, having won twice this year on the
second-tier Challenge Tour.
Interestingly, Benson - who first came to notice when selected as an amateur
international - has not felt the burden of parental expectation resting
heavily on his shoulders. The explanation of his name is simple, he says.
“He just loved Seve,” he said of his father, John.
“He was his favourite golfer and he just liked the name. But he never forced
me into playing golf. Obviously he introduced me to it, but it wasn't a case
of, ‘I'm going to call you Seve and make sure you're going to be a golfer'.
As a kid I also played football and tennis, but I eventually gave them up so
that I could concentrate on golf.”
In tennis, Andre Agassi, the former Wimbledon champion, was prepared for a
life in the professional ranks virtually from the moment he was born, his
father dangling tennis balls above his crib for him to hit.
Benson, however, had no such encouragement. He picked up a plastic club at 18
months - and has effectively never let go - but he said that he had only
support and encouragement from his parents, who have paid his way since he
left Guildford County School at 16 and became a member of Wentworth.
“Obviously, I knew why I was named Seve, but it was only at high school that
people started talking about it,” Benson, who lives at home with his father
and mother, Tessa, said. “I got the mickey taken out of me a couple of
times, although not at school but at golf tournaments.
“I'd be on the 1st tee and I'd say, ‘Hi, I'm Seve.' And they'd say, ‘Yeah, and
I'm Tiger.'”
As with all young professionals, Benson, who has received coaching from, among
others, Claude Harmon and Pete Cowen, dreams of scaling the heights. And,
like all good players, he does not consider that he has any weaknesses in
his game, only strengths that could be improved.
“I don't feel like I have anything to live up to in terms of my name,” he
said. “I've always said that if I don't make it, I've given it my absolute
best effort, off and on the course. I'm going to keep working as hard as I
can, then if I don't make it I'll have no regrets. My ambition has always
been to be the best. I'm 197 in the world at present, so I've got 196 to go.”
As might have been expected with such a first name, Benson has taken a keen
interest in his namesake. At 5, he met Ballesteros at Wentworth, and then
reintroduced himself to the Spaniard at a teaching clinic a few years ago.
“I don't think he realised that my name really was Seve,” he said. “I
introduced myself and he just smiled and said, ‘No, your name can't be
Seve.' It was a bit strange, actually.
“It's a shame that he has retired. I didn't get to see him when he was in his
prime, although I've got loads of his short-game videos.”
And who would he like to model himself on? “Seve for his short game and Tiger
Woods for his professionalism,” Benson said, without hesitation. Well, that
should do for starters.
Hard acts to follow
Benson is not the only sports star christened into greatness:
Martina Hingis She won Wimbledon, but failed to match Ms Navratilova's
18 grand-slam singles titles.
Dennis Bergkamp The former Arsenal and Holland forward took his name
from Denis Law, the former Scotland striker.
Bryan Gary Habana Bryan Robson and Gary Bailey, of Manchester United,
provided inspiration for the South Africa rugby union wing's name.
Tyson Fury The ABA super-heavyweight champion was given the name of the
former world heavyweight champion, Mike.
Charlie Oatway The former Brighton & Hove Albion player was named
after the Queens Park Rangers first XI of 1973. Oddly, none of his 11 names
is Charlie.
Words by Ron Lewis
How they compare
Seve Ballesteros
Born: April 9, 1957, in Pedrena, Spain
Career Turned pro: 1974. Retired: 2007. Professional victories: Major
championships: five (Open Championship, 1979, 1984, 1988; Masters, 1980,
1983). European Tour wins: 50. Other wins: 37.
Seve Benson
Born: Nov 4, 1986, in Guildford, Surrey
Career Turned pro: 2007. Professional victories: Challenge Tour 2008:
Piemonte Open, Italy; Ypsilon Challenge, Czech Republic. Europro Tour 2008:
Wensum Valley tournament, Norfolk
