The career of the most charismatic figure in European golf went into sharp decline in the late 1990s when he started suffering from serious back problems and has never recovered during lengthy lay-offs.

The Spanish star turned 50 the Monday after finishing last at the US Masters this year with rounds of 86 and 80, and a month later made his debut on the US Seniors Tour, but finished joint last with 67-year-old Lee Trevino and admitted he had been contemplating his future since then.

Sadly, it is a future that could easily have been so different if not for the physical frailties which apparently resulted from a lifetime playing the sport he loves.

Ballesteros is just four months older than Germany’s Bernhard Langer, who earlier this year lost a play-off in a regular US Tour event and finished second in the BMW International Open on the European Tour.

And he is only four years older than Jack Nicklaus when he won his 18th and final major, the 1986 US Masters. Nicklaus also finished sixth at Augusta in 1998 at the age of 58.

“I gave away all my teenage years, I worked very hard from morning to night,” said Ballesteros, who spent a total of 61 weeks as world number one between April 1986 and August 1989.

“I put all my energy and effort into the game, my focus was 100% and I thought that was enough. I have a number of good years ahead and I would like to spend more time with my three children.

“Javier is scratch, Miguel is a three handicap and three weeks ago I convinced my girl (Carmen, like his ex-wife) to play. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll caddie with one of them and become the manager.”

His eldest son caddied for him at Hoylake last year in what proved to be an Open farewell without anybody knowing it. Not even Ballesteros himself.

“Obviously my priorities will be my children, my family, my friends and my companies,” he added. “Definitely this is not a real ’Goodbye’. This is ’I’ll see you later’ because I will continue to be involved with the game that gave me so much.”

Ryder Cup team-mate Jose Maria Olazabal led the tributes to Ballesteros, who played on four winning sides and also captained the side to victory at Valderrama in 1997.

“It’s a very special day because what Seve means for golf, in Europe mainly, nobody from a later generation will understand,” said Olazabal, who with Ballesteros won 11, halved two and lost only two games against the Americans.

“He has been a real inspiration for me, the best friend I’ve had in my career. He was really the master.”

George O’Grady, chief executive of the European Tour, added: “What a privilege it has been to witness the phenomenal career of Seve Ballesteros.

“He is quite probably the most iconic golfer of our era and without question he inspired millions to play the game.

“The European Tour would not be where it is today without Seve’s outstanding contribution as a player and, of course, as a team member and captain in the Ryder Cup.

“We wish him every success as he starts the next chapter of his life. We look forward to continuing to support him.”

Ballesteros admitted it was the most difficult decision of his career, compounded perhaps by the shocking rumour – one aired on Spanish television but which he categorically denies – that he had tried to commit suicide following the death of a female friend in a car crash.

“For a few months there was something confused inside of me,” Ballesteros said. “An internal fight. My head said ’I think you should retire’ but my heart was telling me you would be better to continue playing and competing.

“It was difficult for quite a while but finally I decided this year to go and try the Champions Tour. I went there, and the weather was nice, but I only played one tournament and I came back.

“That really made me think very deeply and really question either you continue or you stop playing. I made probably the hardest decision of my career and I decided to retire.

“I have to say that golf has given me so much over the years that it’s really hard to give back even 25% of how much I got. It gave me the pleasure of competing and feeling the glory of winning.

“It gave me the chance of travelling around the world and meeting people and the great feeling of people who showed me understanding and appreciation of what I have done in the game of golf.

“I feel a very very lucky person and very grateful for those things that happened over 30 years.”