European Notebook: Tribute event raises cash for Ballesteros Foundation

A special tribute event at London’s Natural History Museum has raised almost $528,000 for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation.

Highlights of the evening included footage from the BBC archives and a Q&A session with Sandy Lyle and Jose Maria Olazabal, while Ballesteros's daughter Carmen spoke about her late father, who died of brain cancer in May.

Auction lots included a stay in Justin Rose's Bahamas villa and a VIP trip to next year's Ryder Cup.

The funds raised have taken the total raised by the partnership between the Foundation and Cancer Research UK to more than $3.1 million since its creation in 2009.

LIFE-CHANGING TRIP: Colin Montgomerie calls his recent visit to Afghanistan to see British troops "a life-changing trip."

Last year's Ryder Cup captain was reunited with some of the soldiers at the annual British PGA fundraising lunch in London, where the donations included a £25,000 check to the charity set up in memory of Montgomerie's mother.

"I was honored to have been given the opportunity to represent the PGA along with (captain) Eddie Bullock and (ex-captain) Parnell Reilly," said Montgomerie. "The memory of teaching the youth of downtown Kabul how to swing a golf club is one that will linger.

"All these children have known is war," he added. "They were born in war, they remain in war, they know nothing different."

ONE LAST BOOST: Alvaro Quiros’ dramatic putt for eagle on the final hole to seal his win at the Dubai World Championship gave the Tour Players Foundation - Birdie Pledge a final fundraising boost.

Luke Donald’s consecutive birdies on the 16th, 17th and 18th holes also made a huge difference to the Birdie Pledge by ensuring that the money raised broke the $21,000 dirhams mark.

The Tour Players Foundation, the charitable arm of The European Tour, led the charitable initiative in which 100 dirhams in United Aarb Emirates currency ($27.25 per 100 dirhams) for every birdie was donated to the foundation’s chosen charity in Dubai, the Special Needs Families Group, while an eagle resulted in a donation of 200 dirhams ($54.44).

With the field in Dubai accumulating 808 birdies and 12 eagles, a total of 83,200 dirhams ($22,648) was raised for the local charity. And shortly after the tournaent’s conclusion, the TPF upped that figure up to 90,000 dirhams, which equates to a final donation of right at $25,000.

The TPF has supported the SNF Group since 2009, enabling it to develop and expand its care of the special needs children of Dubai. The SNF Group specializes in providing holistic support to young adults with special needs through personalized and professional care at the SNF Development Centre, situated in the Al Kamara area of Dubai.