SEVE Ballesteros' troubles continued yesterday when he withdrew from the Freeport McDermott Classic in New Orleans, his last chance to make a halfway cut this year before next week's US Masters.
Ballesteros pulled out on the eve of the £1 million tournament after seeing a doctor about the heavy cold he has been suffering from since the end of last week.
"I have a high temperature and I just don't feel very good," said Europe's Ryder Cup captain, who failed to win a single penny in his first five appearances on the European tour this season and has also been seeking more help for his bad back.
The doctor, Marshall St Amant, said: "He has a classic cold and flu like the TV adverts.
"I've put him on antibiotics, told him he needs bed and rest and also to drink lots of water and Gatorade. He should be better within a week."
Ballesteros, 40 next Wednesday, commented: "I feel I want to go home, but I don't make quick decisions. Most of the time quick decisions are wrong decisions."
He must be considered doubtful for the Masters, however. He has not missed the first major of the year since his debut, in 1977 and won it in 1980 and 1983.
"I started feeling bad three days before I came out here. I've been on medication the whole time, but it's been getting worse.
The player added: "The doctor advised me to pull out." St Amant, though, said it was Ballesteros's final decision.
As regards next week he added: "The most important thing is to be healthy. That's more important, than anything."
And when pushed to surmise the whole of 1997 so far Ballesteros stated: "It can only get, better."
Ballesteros also withdrew from his last event before the Masters in 1996, his bad back forcing him out of the Players' Championship in Florida after just 11 holes.
A fortnight later, though, he made the cut at Augusta and finished 43rd.
The back continued to bother him during the season and he finished 69th on the European Order of Merit, his lowest position since he turned professional in 1974.
In a dreadful start to this year he is already 30 over par for five tournaments. After finishing 127th out of 130 in the Dubai Desert Classic he shot 84 in the second round he flew to Munich to see the same alternative medicine expert who has saved Jose Maria Olazabal's career.
Before practising with Olazabal on Tuesday, however, Ballesteros reported that he has seen no improvement in his own condition yet.
Ballesteros's withdrawal means there are only seven Europeans playing in New Orleans this week.
Ian Woosnam is another fighting to be fully fit for the Masters. The 1991 champion pulled out of the Players' Championship during the second round with a recurrence of back trouble. He is resting at his house in Barbados this week.
