Spanish golf legend Severiano Ballesteros was released from intensive care on Wednesday, one day after he underwent his fourth operation since being diagnosed with a brain tumour in October.

"Ballesteros is doing well and has already left the intensive care unit. He is back in the ward," Madrid's La Paz Hospital said in a statement.

Doctors on Tuesday implanted a valve in the 51-year-old's brain and performed a cranioplasty to repair a bone defect in his skull.

Ballesteros, who collected 87 titles before knee and back problems forced him to retire last year, was taken to the hospital on October 6 after he collapsed and briefly lost consciousness at Madrid airport.

He announced he had a brain tumour on October 12 after first personally informing his ex-wife and their three teenage children of the diagnosis.

Two days later, he underwent surgery to remove the tumour, and on October 16, he had a second operation to ease a build-up of fluid in the brain.

On October 24, Ballesteros underwent a third successful operation to ease swelling in his brain and remove the remains of a tumour.

He has called his battle against the tumour the "hardest challenge of my life."

Regarded as one of golf's all-time greats, Ballesteros won five majors.

He won the British Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and became the first European to win the Augusta Masters in 1980, an achievement he repeated in 1983.

Ballesteros was also an influential figure in the Ryder Cup, winning 20 points from 37 matches and captaining Europe to victory at Valderrama in 1997.

AFP

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