MY ALL TIME SPORTING HERO

 ‘I have been incredibly lucky in getting to know sports stars personally, but I have and will only have one all-time sporting hero – Severiano Ballesteros. As a golfer there is no way to describe how exciting he was to photograph.  I became a close friend, and I am so proud to honestly say that the two images below (left and centre) are without doubt the two images that defined his career.  This is followed by my favourite image of him at home on the beach at Pedrena in Northern Spain, where he would hit the first shots of his life with a 3 iron and pebbles.’

Seve Ballesteros Open 1988

SEVE BALLESTEROS 1988

The Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s.

Seve Ballesteros Open 1984

SEVE BALLESTEROS 1984

Celebrating his winning putt at The Open Championship at St Andrews.

Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal, Ryder Cup 1991

JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL & SEVE BALLESTEROS 1991

The Ryder Cup, Kiawah Island, USA.  The finest partnership in Ryder Cup history.

Seve Ballesteros, Spain 1996

SEVE BALLESTEROS 1996

On Somo beach, near his home at Pedrena, Spain.

Phil Mickelson, Masters

PHIL MICKELSON AT THE MASTERS IN 2007

Phil Mickelson wins at the Masters

PHIL MICKELSON 2004

Winning his first major championship at The Masters.

Ernie Els

ERNIE ELS 2012

The Open Champion.

Ian Poulter, Abu Dhabi HSBC Champs, 2016

IAN POULTER 2016

At The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. ‘I love it when weather delays mean that players start on holes we never see them on at first light.’

Tiger Woods Dubai 2001

TIGER WOODS 2001

Woods in the woods, at The Dubai Desert Classsic.

Tiger Woods, Open, Carnustie 1999

TIGER WOODS 1999

Woods in the deep rough, at The Open Championship at Carnoustie.

Tiger Woods US Masters 2015

TIGER WOODS 2015

On the 9th hole at The Masters.

The Masters - Round Two, 13th hole

PHIL MICKELSON 2010

On the 13th hole at The Masters.  ‘This hole is my daily afternoon studio at Augusta – the finest theatre of golf photography.’

SERGIO GARCIA IS CHASED MY MICHAEL JORDAN,ALFRED DUNHILL CUP, ST ANDREWS. 1999
Sergio Garcia Michael Jordan St Andrews Dunhill Cup 1999

SERGIO GARCIA IS CHASED MY MICHAEL JORDAN AT THE 1999 ALFRED DUNHILL CUP AT ST ANDREWS

‘Earlier in the round I heard Jordan say to Garcia “Do you want a running race boy?” So I made sure I was always 200 yards ahead of them just in case – and sure enough I got lucky!’

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