ANY golfer who has ever had a first tee nightmare can take heart from a visit to the North-East by a legend of the game yesterday.
Seve Ballesteros addressed the ball in front of an expectant crowd at Wynyard Golf Course - and duffed his shot out of bounds.
The Spaniard, winner of The Open three times, was in the region to officially launch the Seve Trophy.
The competition, which involves the best players from Great Britain and Ireland taking on the stars from Europe, will be held at Wynyard, near Billingham, Teesside, from September 22 to 25 next year.
Far from being put off by his embarrassing start, Ballesteros claimed a birdie at the par five hole.
He said: "I had not hit any balls, and when you hit your first ball without warming up it's very difficult."
It is the first time the 47-year-old has visited the course and he said he was impressed by the set-up.
* Seve jets in - see /sport/columnists/From the Fairway
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