MADRID, Dec 11: After first passing over golf great Seve Ballesteros and later adding him to the list, France paid tribute to some of Spain’s greatest athletes Wednesday. Ballesteros, a five-time major champion, was released from the hospital on Tuesday following a two-month stay and four separate brain surgeries on a cancerous tumor.

Generally attributed with changing the face of European golf, Ballesteros was not originally listed alongside the 26 Spanish athletes — which included five-time Tour de France champion Miguel Indurain and Madrid 2016 Olympics bid chief Mercedes Coghen — who received the French medal honoring youth and sport.

“I think he deserved this more than me because he opened a lot doors for us that came after him,” said two-time Masters champion Josa Maria Olazabal, who has been one of the few people to have spent regular time with Ballesteros since he was admitted to the hospital on Oct 6.

During his playing career, Ballesteros won three British Opens and two Masters titles and recorded 50 victories on the European Tour.—AP