‘I never considered retiring’, says Ballesteros

SEVE BALLESTEROS yesterday insisted he had never thought about retiring after ending his self-imposed two-month exile from the game.

Ballesteros has not played since being disqualified from the Irish Open in June for signing for a wrong score after running up a 12 on the final hole in his first-round 89.

The 45-year-old immediately pulled out of the Open championship at Muirfield, ending his run of 27 consecutive appearances, and speculation was rife he was contemplating ending a career which has brought him five major titles and more than 80 other victories worldwide.