Ballesteros fighting for his life in hospital

Golfing great Seve Ballesteros is to undergo a third operation tomorrow morning to ease swelling on his brain.

Ballesteros is fighting for his life in the Hospital La Paz in Madrid after a suspected brain haemorrhage. However, a statement issued by doctors today said: "The patient remains stable within the seriousness [of his condition]."

The 51-year-old five-times major winner has undergone surgery twice since the diagnosis of a brain tumour earlier this month and he remains under sedation in intensive care.

Ballesteros, three-times Open champion, confirmed he had a brain tumour following hospital tests after he collapsed at Madrid's Barajas Airport last month.

He underwent eight hours of surgery last Tuesday and was taken back into an operating room for a second life-saving process 48 hours later. Surgeons removed part of his skull to allow swelling room to expand in a controversial procedure known as decompressive craniectomy.

Earlier this week, Ballesteros was reported to have been showing signs of improvement.

A hospital spokesman, confirming doctors let him come round from his sedation briefly on Monday, said: "They let him wake up for a short while. He reacted well and they put him back under sedation again."

Ballesteros has been plagued by health problems in recent years and was forced to retire from golf due to a bad back.