Golf legend Seve Ballesteros is dead

Severiano Ballesteros had won a record 50 tournaments on the European Tour before retiring in 2007.Ballesteros was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2008He won a record 50 tournaments on the European TourHe helped beat the U.S. in the 1985 Ryder Cup to begin two decades of dominance in golf

(CNN) -- Golfing legend Severiano Ballesteros died Saturday from complications related to a brain tumor, according to his official website. He was 54.

A message on his website Saturday said, in part, "Today, at 2.10 a.m. Spanish time, Seve Ballesteros passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his home in Pedrena.

"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 tumor on 5th October 2008 at Madrid Hospital la Paz.."

Ballesteros won a record 50 tournaments on the European Tour before retiring in 2007.

A three-time British Open champion and two-time Masters champion, Ballesteros was often credited for transforming European golf.

Ballesteros first made his name as a 19-year old in 1976 when he finished second at the British Open -- one of golf's four major tournaments.

That year he also went on to win the European Tour's money list for the first of six times. His triumph at the 1979 British Open made him the youngest winner of the event that century and the first non-British European to do so since 1907. He was twice victor at the Masters in Augusta.

As well as his success in stroke play tournaments, Ballesteros was also a mighty competitor in the match play format, winning the world title five times.

He helped beat the United States in the 1985 Ryder Cup to begin two decades of dominance and also led his team to victory in Valderrama, Spain in 1997 -- the first year that the teams event was hosted by Europe outside of Britain and Ireland.

Ballesteros was diagnosed with a brain tumor after losing consciousness at Madrid Airport on October 5, 2008.

In late 2008, he reportedly was recovering from the tumor. Ballesteros was released from a hospital after several operations.

At the time, he called situation the "hardest challenge of my life."

He posted a message on his personal website to thank the doctors at Madrid's Universitario La Paz hospital for the treatment.

"Thanks to them I will be able to play the mulligan of my life, which I expect to enjoy at my best," Ballesteros said at the time.

CNN's Esprit Smith contributed to this report.

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