TRIBUTES poured in to golf legend Seve Ballesteros after the former world number one player died today aged 54 at his home in Spain.

The family of the popular Spaniard, who won five majors and was instrumental in growing golfs popularity, announced he had passed away at 1.10am today due to respiratory failure.

Ballesteros had been diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008.

Julian Small, chief executive of Wentworth Golf Club, where Ballesteros won five times, said: "Seve was a great champion. He was a swashbuckling man, a handsome man who really entertained the crowd."

The Seve Ballesteros Foundation, which Ballesteros set up following his diagnosis to help others with brain cancer, was the chosen charity for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Mr Small told Sky News: "He played such a fantastic game of golf. Wherever Seve went there was always a huge crowd. He saw the West course here at Wentworth as one of his favourite places to play.

"He is the pioneer, he is the person that has changed the shape in many ways - especially with the general public - of European golf. His way of playing, his whole charisma, he brought it to new markets, to new people, to new populations. He is Europe's version of Arnold Palmer, he is the person that really made that big difference.

"Seve and the Ryder Cup - its legendary what he did.

"To think that Colin Montgomery had him on a speakerphone to the team last year down at Celtic Manor is a sign of how the professional golfers were inspired by him.

"Seve was in many ways the king of the recovery shot. I always remember a wonderful shot - I think it may have been in 1991 - over a shot that was a very tricky shot and a very important shot in the game. A little boy behind him was rattling his coins in his pocket and Seve stepped back and said to the little boy, 'Are you nervous?' He said, 'Yes' - he said, 'So am I!'."

Ballesteros had joined forces with Cancer Research UK to raise money for the charity to help fund research into brain cancer.

Today the chief executive of Cancer Research UK Harpal Kumar said: "We're very saddened to hear that Seve Ballesteros has lost his fight against brain cancer. I had the great honour of meeting Seve and his family at his home in Pedrena when we first established the Seve Ballesteros Foundation partnership in 2009 and my thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time.

"Seve was a hero to many for all he achieved during his career, but never more so than in the months after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. His personal battle against the disease, and his determination to help others through his Foundation, was truly inspirational.

"Seve's experience brought a much needed spotlight onto brain cancer and Cancer Research UK was honoured to join forces with his Foundation to work towards our shared goal of beating brain cancer. It's a huge challenge, but one that Seve was committed to making a reality.

"The partnership with Cancer Research UK has already raised more than £700,000 towards ambitious and vital research that will help improve diagnosis and treatment of brain cancers in the future.

"Today, we have lost a man who will be much missed and remembered the world over for what he achieved both on and off the golf course."