Ballesteros troubled by furor

SUTTON COLDFIELD, England, May 10 (UPI) -- Seve Ballesteros said Saturday he has not slept for three or four days due to the furor he touched off last week on the European Tour.

The Spaniard was disqualified from the Italian Open after refusing to accept a one-shot penalty for slow play. He faces the possibility of a disciplinary hearing for calling tour chiefs "the PGA mafia" and alleging they were out to get him.

"What happened last week and this week has really affected my game and my concentration," said Ballesteros, who was added to the BBC commentary team at the Benson and Hedges Open at The Belfry this weekend after missing the cut.

"That's no good and I think we should close this situation. Life continues. I'm disappointed with the situation. It's been a hard week for some people -- much harder for me. I haven't been able to sleep for three or four days."

Ballesteros said he didn't accept the penalty stroke because he felt, "abused by the referee."

"Obviously, I knew I was going to be disqualified, and I accept that, and I paid the penalty," he said. "I didn't feel I broke the rules. I always play by the rules and that's the way it goes.

"The thing I have to say is that I'm a bit sad and disappointed by some of the players and some of the media, that they've made an opinion based only on one side. I think that is very unfair."

Ballesteros, a two-time Masters champion and legend in his sport, also thanked those that sent him e-mails, faxes and letters in support.

"I also have to say that I keep playing golf because I love this game," he said. "I know the last couple of years I've been playing like a 10-handicapper. All I can say is that I try my best and I will try to get better."

Ballesteros found himself facing the wrath of European Tour colleagues over his comments.

Tournament committee member Bernhard Langer said, "There is no reason to act the way Seve acted. We have rules and we have to act by them. I think he should continue to be an example to young players.

"It's just not right, he should not do it and he does not need to do it. I don't believe there are guys out to get him."

Langer, a two-time Masters champion from Germany, said the players make the rules on slow play.

"Go over them and you get the consequences," he said. "When I raised my kids, I told them there are boundaries -- go across them and there are going to be consequences. It's the only way to live life.

"The tour can't be seen to have incidents like this every week."

Ballesteros intentionally changed his scorecard in defiance of the penalty stroke, something Langer called a "serious breach."

Sam Torrance, captain of Europe's victorious Ryder Cup team last year and another member of the tournament committee that meets Wednesday, said for Ballesteros to think there is a plot against him "is beyond belief."

"He has been fantastic for our tour," Torrance said. "He probably made it. He's the Arnold Palmer of our tour. He is saying stuff that isn't true. (Tour executive director) Ken Schofield has done an incredible job."

Paul McGinley, a standout on Torrance's team, added, "It's disappointing to see dirty laundry washed in public. Seve's entitled to his opinion, but I certainly don't consider them the mafia.

"It does not do the tour any good, Seve any good or Ken any good. And I think Ken's done the right thing by not making a public response."

Irishman Padraig Harrington said everyone thinks of Ballesteros as a "hero" but they are asking why he's fighting the tour.

"It's like he has something to prove, but he's done everything," Harrington said. "We'd all give an arm to have the career he's had.

"I think he should sit back, bask in the glory and enjoy it. Everybody knows what he did, but he seems to be fighting a battle against himself -- an imaginary battle."

Harrington called the whole situation a "pity."

"If I've done what he has when I'm 45," Harrington said, "I hope I am a relaxed individual."