Seve Ballesteros has died at the age of 54.

The Spaniard passed away due to respiratory failure in the early hours of Saturday morning at his home in the northern town of Pedrena.

He had been battling with a neurological condition since being diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in 2008.

Ballesteros underwent surgery four times to remove the tumour, with the initial operation lasting 12 hours, before undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

After a second course of chemotherapy at Madrid's Le Paz Hospital in February 2009, he said on his website at the time: "The results of the check-up were really positive, better even than the first ones."

Two more courses followed and four months later Ballesteros made his first public appearance, saying it was "a miracle" to be alive.

In December 2009 he appeared on television to receive the BBC's Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sports Personality of the Year event from his compatriot Jose Maria Olazabal.

However, he has rarely been seen in public since March 2010 when he fell off a golf cart and banged his head on the ground and he was not well enough to attend last year's Open at St Andrews in July, where he was due to take part in a special four-hole Champions Challenge.

His family said on Friday that he had suffered a "severe deterioration" of his condition and a further statement on www.seveballesteros.com on Saturday confirmed that he had passed away at 2.10am local time.

Statement

"Seve Ballesteros passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his home in Pedrena," the statement read.

"The Ballesteros family is very grateful for all the support and gestures of love that have been received since Seve was diagnosed with a brain tumour on 5th October 2008 at Madrid Hospital la Paz.

"At this time the family asks for respect and privacy at such a painful time."

A true legend of the golfing world, Ballesteros turned professional aged 16 and became the youngest winner of the Open just five years later in 1979.

He would go on to win the tournament twice more as well triumphing on two occasions at Augusta, including becoming the first European to don a green jacket when he clinched a four-shot victory in 1980.

As well as a stellar personal career he played in eight Ryder Cups and went on to captain Europe to glory over the United States at Valderrama in 1997.

His retirement came in 2007 after battling an arthritic back and knee problems - he was then diagnosed with a brain tumour in October of the following year after collapsing at Madrid airport.

The players participating in the European Tour's Spanish Open will hold a minute's silence in Ballesteros' honour and will wear black ribbons, while the flags at Real Club de Golf El Prat will be flown at half-mast for the third round.