Ballesteros family hit out at Euro Tour

The family of Seve Ballesteros has accused the European Tour of being “disrespectful” to the late five-time major winner over its plans to host an inaugural EurAsia Cup event in Malaysia in March.

European Tour launched the new matchplay event between Asia and Europe last month after removing its sanction from the Royal Trophy, a similar tournament launched by Ballesteros in 2006. Ballesteros’s brother Vicente has criticised the new event, and in particular a claim by Tour chief George O’Grady that the Ballesteros family supported the venture.

Vicente Ballesteros said: “I am certain that Seve would have found this proposal to be in very bad taste and very disrespectful. Mr O’Grady has also said that this new proposed event is supported by the Ballesteros family... my brother Baldomero and I do not support this new proposed event at all. We support the Royal Trophy.”

A spokesman for the European Tour said it would not comment in response.

At the EurAsia Cup launch last month, O’Grady said in a statement on the European Tour website: “I am pleased the inaugural EurAsia Cup carries with it the support of Seve Ballesteros’ family and The Seve Ballesteros Foundation.”