The media covering the Masters still was located in the Quonset hut left over from World War II. There was a small, oblong interview room and it was jammed with reporters wanting in on Seve Ballesteros' post-round Q & A.

This was the mid-'80s and you could not write a lead paragraph to a Seve piece without a reference to the "dashing Spaniard."

The patrons (Augustan for customers) still came from places such as Milledgeville and Eufaula, and a Yankee visitor always felt as if he could detect a hint of red on many necks.

Gary Player had been the first non-U.S. player to win the Masters in 1961. He followed with two more in 1974 and 1978. He was from South Africa. The folks behind the ropes could handle that.

Ballesteros was a different case when he won in 1980 and again in 1983. He spoke Spanish, with his English a work in progress. On occasion, he would take offense at what seemed a routine question from the U.S. media, and those large brown eyes would show a flash of anger.

All in all, you couldn't find many people on the grounds or in the Quonset hut rooting for Ballesteros.

I had a different view. I thought Seve was a hoot. If you focused on his answers, there was always a barb or a phrase that gave you a smile.

On the afternoon remembered here, Ballesteros was asked to detail a 3 he made on a par-5.

"Driver, 4-'i-run,' 12 feet, glass," Seve said.

That meant he hit a 4-iron to 12 feet and made the putt, allowing him to collect the prize of crystal the Masters offered for making an eagle.

A few years later, the 1990 U.S. Open was being played at Medinah. Seve was halfway through his second round and things weren't looking good.

"I was on the 10th hole, I was 2-over par and I was in the woods," Ballesteros said. "The cut looked to be 2- or 3-over. If I did not do something, it could be an early trip home."

Ian Wright offered the caddie's view: "Seve was behind several trees, but there was a little opening there. He had to keep it low to stay under the trees, but also had to carry the bunker in front of the green. There was no margin for error."

Ballesteros came up with the required perfection and the ball finished nine inches from the cup. He tapped in for a birdie, made three more birdies and two spectacular par saves over the next eight holes, and put a 69 on his card.

Ballesteros was two years removed from the last of his five majors victories, the 1988 British Open. He was only 33, yet no longer in the discussion about who was the world's best player.

A handful of reporters surrounded Seve after the Medinah round, and one asked: "When was the last time you felt you were playing great golf?"

Ballesteros stroked his chin and said: "I'm thinking. I would say the last time I felt I was playing great was about a half-hour ago."

For all the victories, there was never a Ballesteros moment to top what occurred at Oak Hill in 1995. By then, Seve's game was a mess and it would be his last Ryder Cup as a player.

Yet, with Europe trailing 9-7, captain Bernard Gallacher sent out Ballesteros first in singles to take on Tom Lehman, America's most efficient player at that moment.

Lehman hit fairways and greens. Ballesteros hit trees and traps. Somehow, Lehman didn't take the lead until the eighth hole and didn't close out Seve until the 15th.

Later that day, Europe made a stunning comeback for victory, and Ballesteros weeped with joy.

On Friday, Seve's family announced he was near death because of a brain tumor diagnosed in October 2008. He died early Saturday at his home in Pedrena, Spain. He was 54.

Lehman was playing in a Champions Tour event in Alabama when he heard Ballesteros was in his final hours. Immediately, he went back to his Oak Hill adventure with Europe's great competitor.

"Nobody could have done that [stayed in the match]," Lehman said. "Nobody could have done it from the places that he hit it. It's the best nine holes of golf I've ever seen, that front nine. He shot even par. I would have shot ... probably 9 over."

Patrick Reusse can be heard noon-4 weekdays on 1500ESPN. • preusse@startribune.com