Golf:Seve Ballesteros is winning his battle against a cancerous brain tumour and hopes to play in next year's British Open at St Andrews. Should the mercurial Spaniard manage that feat he will tee it up at the Home of Golf as an Honorary Member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A).

The five-time major winner accepted the R&A’s invitation today and joins an illustrious, yet select group of players and dignitaries to have been offered the membership.

Ballesteros first burst onto the scene as a confident 19-year-old, who finished tied second alongside Jack Nicklaus - also an R&A Honorary Member - in the 1976 British Open at Birkdale, where he gave eventual winner Johnny Miller a run for his money.

The 52-year-old went on to win three British Opens - Lytham and St Annes in 1979 and 1988 plus the famous fist-pumping celebration win at St Andrews in 1984. He also donned the US Masters Green Jacket for his Augusta wins in 1980 and 1983.

The mercurial Spaniard played in eight Ryder Cups, captained the winning side at Valderrama in 1997, helped create the Seve Trophy (now the Vivendi Trophy) and was induced into golf’s Hall of Fame in 1999.

“I am greatly honoured to accept Honorary Membership of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews,” said Ballesteros. “I have had, perhaps, the outstanding moment of my career at St Andrews and the town will always retain a very special place close to my heart.

“I sincerely hope that I will be able to come back next year and be part of the 150th Anniversary of The Open Championship.”

Other players to have been made R&A Honorary Members:

Peter Alliss
Tony Jacklin
John Jacobs
Kel Nagle
Jack Nicklaus
Arnold Palmer
Gary Player
Peter Thomson
Lee Trevino
Roberto De Vicenzo
Tom Watson