Spanish golf legend Severiano Ballesteros was released on Tuesday from the hospital where he has undergone four operations since being diagnosed with a brain tumour in early October, the hospital said.

"Ballesteros has been discharged this morning by the department of neurosurgery and has already left the hospital," Madrid's La Paz hospital said in a statement.

The 51-year-old will remain in treatment in the outpatient clinic of the hospital, the statement added.

Ballesteros was diagnosed with a brain tumour after losing consciousness at Madrid airport on October 6. He underwent a first operation on October 14, when a sizable part of the tumor was taken out.

A second operation was carried out on October 16 to remove part of his skull to allow room for a swelling brain to expand.

He underwent another operation lasting over six hours on October 24 to remove what remained of the tumor and reduce the swelling.

Ten days after that surgery the hospital said Ballesteros had regained consciousness and was able to talk to his family members.

Last week surgeons performed a fourth, scheduled operation on Ballesteros to implant a valve in his brian and repair a bone defect in his skull.

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 over the United States at Valderrama in 1997.