Seve postpones first outing

Seve Ballesteros has delayed his first tournament appearance of 2006 due to further pain in his back.

The 48-year-old played his first event for nearly two years at the Madrid Open in October, and although he missed the halfway cut Ballesteros said he hoped to be back at next week’s Dubai Desert Classic.

“He changed his mind because he does not feel 100%,” said his manager and nephew Ivan Ballesteros today.

“Seve wants to practise some more and the other thing is his back. He’s been doing exercises, but he has some pain and he believes that if he competes next week he might have to stop.

“He wants to be at the Masters in April and is hoping to play before then.”

Twice a winner at Augusta, Ballesteros has not appeared in any major since missing the cut there with a second-round 85 three years ago.

It was feared his career was over because of an arthritic condition in his back – it is 10 years since he made a cut in a major – but he returned two months ago on the same Madrid course where he had the last of his 50 European Tour victories in 1995.

He finished 118th out of 119 with scores of 77 and 73.