The La Paz Hospital in Madrid announced on Tuesday that golfer Severiano Ballesteros had been released from hospital following a long period of treatment for a brain tumor.

"The patient Severiano Ballesteros has been given the permission to leave hospital from the neuro-surgery department and has already left the hospital," confirmed the brief press release given by La Paz.

The announcement marks the end of a difficult two-month period for the 51-year-old Ballesteros.

The man who won three British Open golf titles and the US Masters on two occasions, was admitted to the La PazHospital after suffering dizzy spells and a loss of consciousness on October 6.

He underwent tests and six days later confirmed he had a brain tumor that was operated on for the first time on October 14.

Ballesteros would need surgery on three more occasions, with the last intervention on December 2 carried out to divert fluids away from his brain. A day later he was allowed to leave the Intensive Care Unit and he has now been discharged.

(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2008)