Report: Ballesteros gravely ill

Oct 10, 2008 - 7:01 PM MADRID, Spain (Ticker) -- Seve Ballesteros reportedly is gravely ill in a Madrid hospital.

University Hospital issued a statement Friday on the health of the legendary Spanish golfer, who fainted on Monday and had been undergoing tests since at the Unity of Medicine before being admitted to the hospital in La Paz.

"The patient D. Severiano Ballesteros has left the Unity of Medicine, where he was admitted because of a crisis comicial Partial, and is already on site to continue the treatment prescribed. It is stable, " said the statement, which appeared on the web site of the newspaper El Pais.

The newspaper reported that doctors have explained that a crisis is a convulsive attack that can be caused by an epileptic fit or the existence of a brain tumor.

On his own web site, Ballesteros claimed to be feeling fine and thanked well-wishers for their support, but a statement confirming a serious illness for the five-time major champion is expected this weekend.

In its statement, the hospital said it is not authorized to provide further details "on the express wish of Ballesteros."

The hospital did confirm to El Pais that Ballesteros will remain there for several days.

Ballesteros, 51, fainted at an airport in Barajas on Monday, losing consciousness for several minutes.

Ballesteros retired from competitive golf last summer after his 50th birthday. In July 2007, his nephew and manager, Ivan Ballesteros, announced that the two-time Masters champion had an irregular heartbeat, but that it was nothing too serious.

At the same time, Ballesteros issued a statement to reassure his "friends and admirers" around the world that he was doing "perfectly well."