Six of the best from Seve

Seve Ballesteros announced his retirement today. The Spaniard was golf's great

improvisor and he leaves behind the memory of many great shots.

Here, Sportsmail Online picks six of the best.

1976 Open Championship, Royal Birkdale

The 19-year-old Ballesteros delivers a delicate pitch-and-run shot through the

bunkers on the last to claim a share of second place with the great Jack

Nicklaus. 'The Golden Bear' later wrote he knew the young Spaniard was

"something special" from that moment on.

1979 Open Championship, Royal Lytham

Ballesteros all but clinched his first Claret Jug with the famous car park

shot. After ballooning his tee shot on the 16th into a temporary car park, he

received a free drop and hit his approach to 15 feet and a birdie putt.

1983 Ryder Cup, PGA National Golf Club

Ballesteros saved his match against Fuzzy Zoeller with an extraordinary

245-yard three wood from under the lip of a bunker to the front of the green.

Zoeller said: "They say great golfers make great shots, but that one made me

blink."

1984 Open Championship, St Andrews

A 20ft putt on the 18th which denied Tom Watson what would have been a

record-equalling sixth title was not spectacular. But Ballesteros himself picked

it as his favourite and his celebrations are part of Open folklore.

1988 Open Championship, Royal Lytham

Ballesteros denied Nick Price the Claret Jug with one of the greatest rounds in

Open history. Returning to the 16th, scene of his famous car park shot,

Ballesteros hit a perfect one iron from the tee before hitting a nine iron

approach just three inches from the hole.

1993 European Masters, Crans-Sur-Sierre

Close to miraculous. Ballesteros was directly behind a swimming pool wall, but

hit a pitching wedge over the wall and between overhanging branches to the

fringe of the last green and chipped in for birdie. The shot can never be

repeated as a granite marker has been erected to celebrate the achievement.