Seve Ballesteros on form in rare public outing

SEVE Ballesteros appeared in good spirits when he made a public appearance yesterday, opening a symposium on brain tumours supported by his foundation.

The five-times major winner has been battling back to health after being diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumour in 2008. "I'm very well. Little by little and week by week I notice small improvements. I'm on the road towards normality," Ballesteros said.

Walking unaided and speaking with much greater clarity than on previous occasions, Ballesteros joined in the question and answer session and quizzed his own doctor with a grin.

The 53-year-old Spaniard told the gathering a joke and went on to speak about his recovery programme.

"The key is to have a strong mind, to accept the situation and to beat it," he said.

"I have been on a very strict diet and have done a lot of exercise. Gym work on Monday, Wednesday and Friday doing weights and stretching. I walk two hours a day, I sleep well, rest a lot and I laugh. It's important to laugh a lot. Even though we are out of work and suffering with the crisis, laughing doesn't cost anything."

Doctor Cristobal Belda, who operated on Ballesteros two years ago, praised his patient's attitude.

"Seve is well enough and recovering," he said. "The work he is doing isn't something for a few days or months. It's an enormous effort. It is a physical and psychological rehabilitation."

Ballesteros was diagnosed with a brain tumour the size of two golf balls and needed four operations before beginning a course of chemotherapy.

l Frances Bondad overcame an early bogey to shoot an opening 67 and take a one-stroke lead at the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open. The Australian three-putted the fifth but bounced back with six birdies to finish one ahead of Nontaya Srisawang and Christel Boeljon on five under par at Suzhou Taihu International GC.

"It was very steady. I hit every single fairway and I made a lot of putts," said the 22-year-old, who is searching for her first Ladies European Tour victory.

Thailand's Nontaya collected five birdies along with just one bogey - also at the fifth - to end the day four under alongside Boeljon.

The Dutch 23-year-old fired six birdies, including three in a row from the first, but two bogeys set her back.

"I hit two bad shots and that resulted in two bogeys but other than that it was pretty solid. I just stuck to my game plan," said Boeljon.