SEVE FUNERAL ON WEDNESDAY

SEVE FUNERAL ON WEDNESDAY

A minute's silence and round of applause for Seve Ballesteros at a golf tournament is one thing, but when it comes before a tennis semi-final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal then you know the world of sport has lost a truly giant figure.The death of the five-time major champion, former world number one and Ryder Cup hero at the age of only 54 - he lost his three-year battle with a brain tumour in the early hours of yesterday - How Can You Perfect Your Golf Swing even merited a tribute from the Spanish Prime Minister.Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said: "I would like to express my deepest condolences on the death of Severiano Ballesteros - one of the finest golfers of all time and a legend in world sport."Severiano represented a beginning and an end in the history of Spanish sport. His example paved the way for the extraordinary success our sport is currently enjoying."He was the mirror which Spanish athletes who have reached the pinnacle of world sport looked into. Severiano was loved and respected for his great charisma and strength, which he showed until the very end of his life."Golf does not become an Olympic sport again until 2016 after a break of more than 100 years, but International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge spoke about the golfing great too.

The regional government of Cantabria has announced that the funeral of Seve Ballesteros will take place at 1pm on Wednesday at the San Pedro parish church in his home village of Pedrena near Santander."Seve will be cremated at a ceremony that will be as intimate as possible and at a place that nobody will know," the Ballesteros family were quoted as saying. "That was his express wish. His ashes will remain at his estate, at his home in Pedrena."The golfer's brother Baldomero said in the report: "The funeral rites will be as simple as those for any neighbour from the village. He was born here and here he will remain."Miguel Angel Revilla, head of the local Cantabria government, said the region will observe three days of official mourning for Ballesteros.