Seve Ballesteros' fellow golfers have rallied in support of the Spanish legend after it was revealed on Sunday that he has been diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Ballesteros is one of the game's greatest names, winning five majors and a host of other titles and accolades during a professional career that spanned more than three decades before he announced his retirement from the sport last year.
The 51-year-old now admits he faces 'the most difficult game of his life' as he battles against the tumour, which was uncovered during tests this week at Madrid's La Paz hospital after he fainted on Monday. He will undergo a biopsy on Tuesday.
Sam Torrance, a contemporary of Ballesteros on the European Tour and, like the Spaniard, a former European Ryder Cup captain, hailed the Cantabrian as one of the sport's leading lights.
"Well it's tragic news obviously, he's one of the best-ever players," Torrance told PA Sport.
"There's not much more I can say. I have many fond memories of playing with him and against him. I was on tour before he started and I was on tour after he finished, so I was a witness to his glorious career. I hope he gets better."
Englishman Jamie Spence, who spent 20 years on the European Tour after turning professional in 1985, described Ballesteros as a 'legend' of the sport.
"It's shocking news. He was one of my heroes growing up as a kid. I managed to play with him a few times and that was a great thrill for me, to play golf with him close-up," Spence, who has held senior positions with the European Tour, told PA Sport.
"He was always very helpful on the range to the up-and-coming players, especially in the practice bunker and practice greens, he would always give someone a couple of minutes, he was just fantastic.
"What can you say, he's just an absolute legend of European golf."
Ballesteros' fellow Spanish golfers Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez also responded to Sunday's announcement by wishing their compatriot a speedy recovery.
Olazabal, who visited Ballesteros in hospital, said he was 'confident' he would recover, adding: "While I'm rightly worried, I thought Seve seemed very well. We were talking for a good while. I wish him a speedy recovery."
Jimenez said: "Seve, we love you. We all hope you recover as soon as possible and we're waiting for you."