Ballesteros stable after surgery

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Golf legend Seve Ballesteros is in a stable condition after undergoing an operation on a brain tumour.

The Madrid hospital where he underwent the procedure said he was conscious and stable and recovering in intensive care, and there were no complications.

A biopsy on the tumour was scheduled for Tuesday but doctors decided to operate to remove as much of the tumour as possible before treatment.

The operation took seven hours, according to Ballesteros's family.

"It was a long operation - some statements say 12 hours but we've been told by the family seven hours - and we believe it has been successful," European Tour chief executive George O'Grady told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It has got to be checked through later but his brother has phoned to tell us it was very successful.

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"He has regained consciousness and is in intensive care. If any man can come through this it will be him."

The 51-year-old five-time major winner collapsed at Madrid Airport last week.

He underwent a number of tests over the weekend which uncovered the tumour and after informing his family, Ballesteros confirmed the news in a statement on Sunday.

A statement from La Paz Hospital on Wednesday said: "The patient will spend a post-operative period in the intensive care unit.

"He is currently conscious and in a stable condition, although he cannot receive visits in the coming days until he recovers from the surgery.

"The next medical report will be given when the patient moves to the ward, which will probably be next week."

The removed tumour will be analysed and it will take several days before the results are known, and what course of treatment Ballesteros may need.

Ballesteros won 87 titles during his career, including the Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and the Masters in 1980 and 1983 and captained Europe to Ryder Cup victory at Valderrama in 1997.

He retired last year following arthritic back and knee problems late in his career and doctors discovered an irregular heartbeat when he was admitted to hospital in 2007.