There has never been much debate about it. Seve Ballesteros had the most magical short game the sport has ever seen.
Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Jose Maria Olazabal have all displayed plenty of short-game brilliance over the years.
But one LIV Golf player is now being talked about as having a game around the greens that matches up to Seve’s more than anyone else’s in recent times.
Tiger even picked up a few things from Ballesteros when it came to touch shots. The Spaniard was a natural with anything from a wedge to an iron in his hands.
Seve had a knack for pulling off remarkable shots with any club, not just his wedges. Stories of him saving par with a 3-iron are legendary among those who watched him play.
His influence on chipping and pitching techniques still resonates today, with many pros adopting elements of his style into their own games.
Billy Foster, who has seen plenty of great short games up close during his caddying career, believes there is only one player who truly comes close to Seve in this area.
Patrick Reed compared to Seve Ballesteros for short-game skills by Billy Foster
Patrick Reed recently pulled off a remarkable victory in Dubai.
Despite his obvious ability, Reed remains a polarising figure among golf fans.
But there is no denying the strength of his short game. Watching him operate around the greens, it is hard not to be impressed.
During Sky Sports’ coverage of the Dubai Desert Classic, Nick Dougherty relayed what Foster had said about Reed’s short game to Wayne Riley.
Dougherty explained: “He said he spoke to Billy Foster, because Billy Foster used to caddie for the great Seve at one point, and Billy said to him that Patrick is as close as anyone’s been to Seve around the greens.
“When you hear that sort of a compliment, what does that mean to you?” he asked the 35-year-old American.
“That means so much,” Reed replied.
“If there’s one guy that I wished I had the opportunity to meet, especially in the golf world, it would have been Seve.
“I would have been like, ‘Hey, grab a wedge or whatever club you want, and let’s go and have a chipping contest‘. Because you see videos, you hear about it and actually you don’t see it in person. That would have been absolutely amazing.
“And, you know, to hear something like that, it means a lot to me, especially with how hard I work on my short game.
“Trust me, it has saved me a lot in the past and everything like that, and you know, I feel like right now, with my short game, how it is and everything, I just have to be careful not to get too aggressive.
“Because, I mean, especially on a golf course like this, I start taking some things on that I shouldn’t, and too much on it (his short game).“
Patrick Reed’s short game gets Seve Ballesteros comparison
Reed would have been delighted to hear Billy Foster’s comments on his short game.
While criticism has followed him throughout his career, it’s hard to argue against the quality of his play.
His victory in Dubai saw him rise to 29th in the world rankings, but there’s a strong case that he belongs much higher.
Now 35, Reed is one of the busiest players on tour, competing across various events around the globe almost year-round.
Though he is not a fan favourite, he has earned plenty of respect from those inside the ropes and within golf circles.
Foster’s comparison of his short game to Ballesteros speaks volumes about how he is viewed by those who know the sport best.
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