Ballesteros disqualified from Italian Open

Seve Ballesteros was disqualified from the Italian Open after refusing to accept a one-stroke penalty for slow play.

Ballesteros was penalised for twice taking too long to play his tee shots during the third round at Gardagolf.

The second "bad time" incurred a one-shot penalty on the 16th hole, meaning the Spaniard's birdie four was made into a par five.

Playing partner Gregory Havret duly marked a five on Ballesteros' card, but when told of the penalty by European Tour chief referee John Paramor, Ballesteros rubbed out the score and replaced it with a four.

"I sign for the amount of strokes I make and he (Havret) is the witness," said Ballesteros. "You want to disqualify me, go ahead."

Ballesteros was duly disqualified for signing for an incorrect score, recording a three-over-par 75 instead of a 76.

Paramor said: "It upsets you when you have to do it to your hero.

"But unfortunately he left me no option other than to disqualify him for signing for a score less than actually taken."