July 12, 2024, Cadiz, Cadiz, SPAIN: Tyrrell Hatton of Legion XIII team looks on during day one of the LIV Golf Andalucia at Golf Club Royal of Valderrama on July 12, 2024 in Cadiz, Spain. Cadiz SPAIN - ZUMAa181 20240712_zaa_a181_201 Copyright: xJoaquinxCorcherox
July 12, 2024, Cadiz, Cadiz, SPAIN: Tyrrell Hatton of Legion XIII team looks on during day one of the LIV Golf Andalucia at Golf Club Royal of Valderrama on July 12, 2024 in Cadiz, Spain. Cadiz SPAIN - ZUMAa181 20240712_zaa_a181_201 Copyright: xJoaquinxCorcherox
At LIV Golf Virginia, Legion XIII’s tribute made Seve Ballesteros’ lasting influence powerfully felt. Tyrrell Hatton reveals what inspired his team to pay such an emotional tribute to Seve.
During the event, Legion XIII, captained by Jon Rahm, chose a special first-round outfit: white polo shirts and navy trousers. The look was intended to honor the iconic style of the Spanish golf legend.
"Jon was very passionate about us wearing this outfit today," Hatton revealed. Rahm’s deep connection to Ballesteros, his childhood idol, led the team to unite in paying tribute.
The attire closely mirrored the outfit Seve was famous for wearing. Ballesteros was, in fact, one of the biggest inspirations behind Rahm’s decision to pursue a career in golf.
Hatton noted that the entire European contingent felt a responsibility to honor the five-time major winner. The gesture served as a public acknowledgment of the pioneer's lasting impact.
"It's very obvious what Seve means to us as a European team and what he means for golf in general," Hatton stated. The tribute resonated with fans who remember Seve's charisma.
Seve’s legacy has continued to influence players
The strong connection between Rahm and his hero was vividly portrayed when he won the 2023 Masters. Following that victory, which occurred on what would have been Seve's 66th birthday, an emotional Rahm credited the legend for his win.
"This one was for Seve. He was up there helping and help he did," Rahm had said after his win.
In the first round at Virginia, Hatton also appeared to channel the inspiration he draws from Seve into his performance. He opened with a 66, finishing the round at 6-under par.
Rahm also delivered a solid start as captain of Legion XIII, carding a 69 to sit at 3-under par.
"I'm happy that I can put a good round together wearing it," Hatton concluded.
As the first round came to a close, one question remained: would this tribute inspire more than just an emotional moment and lead Legion XIII to victory? Only the final result would tell.
Trending slideshow: Seve Ballesteros’ Iconic Shots That Changed Golf Forever
Dolly Bhamrick
Seve Ballesteros’ Iconic Shots That Changed Golf ForeverFew golfers captured the spirit of creativity like Seve Ballesteros. A five-time Major champion, three-time Open winner, and Ryder Cup hero, Seve wasn’t just a golfer; he was an artist with a club in hand. His imagination turned hazards into opportunities, his swagger inspired Europe’s rise in the Ryder Cup, and his charisma revived golf’s flair. From miraculous recoveries to fearless shot-making, these are the unforgettable moments that turned Seve from a Spanish prodigy into one of the greatest showmen in sports history. File Photo/ImagoIt’s one of golf’s most replayed miracles. Locked in a tense duel with Fuzzy Zoeller, Seve found himself buried in deep rough, 245 yards from the green. Most players would lay up, but not Seve. Out came the three-wood. With a fearless swing, he launched the ball toward the green’s edge, setting up a par that secured Europe a vital half. It wasn’t just a shot; Seve declared that the Ryder Cup would never again be one-sided. File Photo/ImagoSeve’s first Masters victory was as chaotic as it was brilliant. He led every round, dazzling Augusta with daring drives and magical touch. But the final day brought nerves, three-putts, a dip in Rae’s Creek, and even landing on the wrong green. Yet, through sheer grit and flair, Seve held on to win by four shots, becoming the first European ever to don the green jacket. It was a coronation that announced his arrival as golf’s new global star. IMAGO / DreamstimeWhen most golfers see trees, they see trouble. Seve saw art. His ball sat in the wrong fairway, blocked by low branches. Undeterred, he bent a shot through a maze of trunks and spun it back toward the green, a masterpiece of imagination. The gallery gasped, the commentators laughed in disbelief, and Seve simply smiled. It was proof that his creativity had no limits, even as his career neared twilight. IMAGO / Action PlusAt The Belfry’s daunting 10th hole, the safe play was to lay up short of the water. But Seve wasn’t built for “safe.” He pulled out his persimmon driver and sent the ball soaring over trees and water, landing it ten feet from the pin. Moments later, he holed the eagle putt. The crowd roared, his peers shook their heads, and golf gained a new rebel genius who made risk look effortless. Imago / Imagn ImagesThe brutal 17th at St. Andrews had beaten him all week. On Sunday, with the title on the line, he found the rough again but answered with one of the greatest shots ever struck at the Old Course. He hit a towering six-iron 193 yards over a pot bunker to the green. A two-putt par and a birdie at 18 won him the title, and a joyous fist pump that became golf’s most iconic celebration. Imago/ColorsportFacing Arnold Palmer, Seve was one down with one to play. Seve found himself in a tight lie near a bunker on 18. His ball sat awkwardly near a bunker. Most would aim safe, but Seve’s instinct screamed otherwise. He clipped a low screamer that barely cleared the sand, then watched it break into the hole for an eagle. The crowd erupted. Palmer grinned in disbelief. Seve forced a playoff and won on the third hole, proving once more that audacity was his greatest weapon. Stewart Kendall / Allstar / Mary Evans Picture LibraryThe tee shot lands next to an eight-foot wall. Caddie says, “Chip it sideways.” Seve says, “Watch this.” Lob wedge, vertical blast over the wall and branches, lands short of the green, chips in for a birdie. Even in his later years, when the wins came less often, moments like these reminded the world why Seve was golf’s Picasso. Richard Sellers / Imago ImagesAt just 19, Seve Ballesteros announced himself to the world at Royal Birkdale. On the final hole, he faced an impossible chip between two bunkers. With a fearless touch, he floated the ball to four feet, then calmly sank the putt to tie Jack Nicklaus for second place. Overnight, golf had a new sensation, a bold young Spaniard unafraid to play with flair and freedom. Imago / Imagn ImagesOn the final day at Royal Lytham, Seve was at his brilliant best. A run of birdies gave him the lead, but his masterpiece came at the 18th, his ball nestled in a tricky depression left of the green. With delicate precision, he lofted a soft pitch that landed inches from the hole. That stroke sealed his third Open Championship and one of the finest rounds ever played in Majors’ history. Mark Newcombe/ImagoBack at Royal Lytham, despite two bogeys, he fired six birdies and an eagle. His nine-iron on 16? From 135 yards, it landed just three inches from the hole. His closing 65 earned him a third Open title, his third Claret Jug, two strokes clear of Nick Price. It was a final reminder that when Seve found his rhythm, no one in the world could touch him. Imago/Colorsport
