Five-time major winner Seve Ballesteros was admitted to hospital in Madrid after fainting earlier today. The 51-year-old Spaniard was in a stable condition and undergoing tests after suffering dizziness and briefly losing consciousness, La Paz hospital said in a press release.

The golfer's family asked for no more information to be made available.

The charismatic Ballesteros is one of the greats of European golf, having claimed 87 titles worldwide. He won the British Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and the US Masters in 1980 and 1983.

Ballesteros also played an inspirational role in the Ryder Cup, winning 20 points from 37 matches. He also captained Europe to victory at the Spanish course of Valderrama in 1997.

He was plagued by arthritic back and knee problems in the later stages of his career and was forced to retire in 2007.