Mike Cormack

Seve Ballesteros celebrates after winning the 1984 Open Championship at St. Andrews.

When Tom Watson missed an eight-foot putt that would have won him the Open Championship last July, we remember someone remarking: "You know what? That’s what makes sport so great; because in the movies, he makes it."

Indeed for every ’86 Masters, there is a ’96 Masters. Nothing is certain in sport, no matter how improbable, heart-warming or heart-breaking the tale may be.

Unfortunately for Seve Ballesteros, the latter is the case for him and his plans to participate next month at St. Andrews in a four-hole exhibition for past champions on the eve of the Open Championship.

The 53-year-old Spanish legend has been in the fight of his life since collapsing in a Madrid airport in October of 2008 and doctors soon discovered he was suffering from a malignant brain tumour the size of two golf balls.

After enduring three operations, 12 treatments of chemotherapy and two months of radiation, the three-time British Open champion has already beaten the odds several times and for over a year now had been targeting the July 22 event to make his first public appearance since falling ill.

The British Open at St. Andrews was the perfect place.

It was there in 1984 where Ballesteros offered one of golf's most iconic images after his curling birdie putt on the 72nd green fell into the hole on its final revolution, to win him the championship.

The series of fist pumps he subsequently unleashed on that green would have made Tiger Woods blush and the child-like exuberance of his celebration will be talked about as long as the game is played.

The British public has been smitten with the feisty Ballesteros ever since he burst onto the golfing scene at the age of 19 with a runner-up finish in the 1976 Open Championship.

His subsequent Open Championship wins, the crucial role he played in several European Ryder Cup victories and his all-or-nothing approach to the game only cemented his ties with the Brits. In an interview with Golf Digest for it's British Open preview edition, Ballesteros conceded there was something special about the prospect of seeing them one more time, and at that place.

"My goal was to compete in the championship, but I cannot," he said. "But I think I have the obligation to go and play the (exhibition). Because of what St. Andrews means. To me and to people. Because of all the British people have done in the past for me. They want to see me, and I have to go out there for them."

But like Tom Watson’s putt, what we want to see happen in sports and what we do see are often at odds.

And so last week when doctors advised Ballesteros to stay home, suggesting the stress, emotion and excitement surrounding the event might be too much for his fragile recovery to endure, it was a sad, but not entirely surprising development.

Ballesteros’ doctors made the call before the Golf Digest article went to print, but when reading it now, it’s easy to see why they advised him not to attend, and how hard the decision must have been for him to accept.

When asked by the magazine if he is looking forward to being "personally fulfilled by the experience," Ballesteros broke into tears, saying, "Emotionally it will be... very strong. As you can see. Sorry."

Jaime Diaz, the author of the Golf Digest piece, suggested Ballesteros’ anticipated appearance at St. Andrews would prompt, "the warmest display of mass public affection any golfer has ever received, and called it, "golf's version of Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic torch at the 1996 Summer Games."

Much like Ali, another charismatic champion stripped of his former physical abilities by a debilitating illness, the ultra competitive Ballesteros is taking his latest setback in stride, refusing to feel sorry for himself.

"The doctors who saved me, they say that in my treatment I am on the 15th hole," he said. I'm looking forward to finishing this round."

News and notes

- The only change to St. Andrews's for next month's Open Championhsip is new tee and an extra 35 yards at the Road Hole. The move already has some players grumbling about the decision.

- The Champions Tour is in Quebec this week for the inaugural Montreal Championship and two Canadians, Dave Barr and Daniel Talbot received a pair of late sponsor's exemptions. The field is a strong one with Fred Couples, Hale Iriwn, Tom Lehman, Tom Kite and Mark Calcavecchia taking part.

- Graeme McDowell has a Catholic mother, a Protestant father and now, a U.S. Open title to his credit. So does he consider himself Irish, British, or both? His answer may surprise you.

- We wrote a few weeks back on how Michelle Wie seems to a young woman with many interests outside of golf. Now her coach, David Leadbetter, says it wouldn't surprise him if the American star quit the Tour before her 30th birthday.

- How much would RBC pay to have a Canadian field of this quality? The CN Canadian Women's Open confirmed yesterday that the Top 10 women in the world will take part this August at St. Charles Country Club in Winnipeg.