The legacy of Seve Ballesteros will live on in Crans Montana after the organiser of the Omega European Masters launched a Hollywood-style ‘stars in the pavement’ monument to their champions down the years.
The first bronze plaque to be embedded into the pavement near the entrance to Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club was laid by the great Spaniard’s close friend and 2012 Ryder Cup Captain, José Maria Olazábal.
In total, 55 bronze plaques – representing the number of champions who have won the title - will populate the pavements in the Swiss village which has hosted the European Masters since 1939.
Ballesteros won the title three times, in 1977, 1978 and 1989 and Gaston Barras, President of the Organising Committee, spoke movingly of how “honoured and proud” the Golf Club was to be able to pay tribute to Seve in this way.
The second of the 55 circular plaques was embedded 20 metres away from the Ballesteros bronze by defending champion Miguel Angel Jiménez, who was granted the honour of pressing the plaque bearing his own name into the pavement.