Seve was 19 when he gave Johnny Miller a scare at the British Open in 1976.
He was/is the youngest of several golf professional brothers, and the nephew of Ramon Sota, probably the most successfull Spanish pro before him.
Manuel Ballesteros in particular was tipped for great things, that almost, but never quite materialised.
But their experience played no small part in grooming Seve for greatness.
He was told by them all from an early age that he was the best, yes even better than his hero Nicklaus.
Now I think if your brothers, especially Manuel, are near the top of the game in Europe, and they are hammering that into you from childhood, you are more than one up already.
Children love INVENTING, especially while PLAYING.
Maybe Seve's short game genius was learned while inventing and playing rather than WORKING at his short game.
Subconsciously rather than consciously.
I think Mac O'Grady did a great job with him, but by then doubt had already crept in. The '86 Masters, I think it was, was the beginning.
Musings of a Seve fan.
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