Seve Ballesteros has died after suffering a “severe deterioration’’ in his recovery from a cancerous brain tumor,

Seve Ballesteros has died after suffering a “severe deterioration’’ in his recovery from a cancerous brain tumor, Spanish television reported early this morning. He was 54.

The Spanish star was being cared for at his home in the northern Spanish town of Pedrena, where he has mostly been since undergoing four operations in late 2008, his family said yesterday.

Ealier yesterday, the golfer’s website said his “neurological condition has suffered a severe deterioration.’’

Ballesteros won three British Opens and two Masters with a game marked by spectacular improvisational play. One of the best-known personalities in Spain and the golfing world, he also won 50 times on the European Tour and is widely credited with transforming European golf.

Spanish golfers Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez were visibly upset after finishing their second rounds at the Spanish Open in Terrassa and declined to speak to reporters.

“We tried to talk to them after their rounds but they couldn’t even speak because they were crying. They couldn’t even talk,’’ Spanish Open spokeswoman Maria Acacia Lopez-Bachiller said. “This had to be the saddest competition in terms of ambiance today. I’ve never seen anything like it.’’

Olzabal teamed with Ballesteros to form the most formidable partnership in Ryder Cup history. Jimenez served as Ballesteros’ vice captain at the 1997 Ryder Cup in Valderrama.

“He really blazed the trail for Europeans,’’ said Paul Casey of England, who was clearly upset after his round at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, N.C.

PGA — Pat Perez was four shots behind playing partner Lucas Glover, then birdied five of the last six holes in the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, N.C., for a 7-under 65 and a two-shot lead.

Perez has made 18 birdies and is at 12-under 132.

Jonathan Byrd rallied from a double bogey on 14 — he went bunker to bunker to water — for a 68 that put him two shots behind along with Bill Haas (70).

Phil Mickelson delivered excitement and saved par from the water for the third time in two rounds. Most of his great shots were for birdie, and the three-time Masters champion wound up with a 66 to position himself nicely for the weekend. Mickelson was at 9-under 135 along with Glover, whose two late bogeys made him settle for a 68.

Champions — Mark Calcavecchia surged to a three-shot lead over Kenny Perry (65) in the Regions Tradition with a 7-under 65 in the second round at Shoal Creek in Birmingham, Ala.

Calcavecchia opened the round in a four-man group one shot off the lead, but birdied holes 10-12 to move into strong position to contend for his first tour win at the year’s opening major. He’s at 11 under entering the final two rounds.

The 13-time PGA Tour winner hasn’t made a bogey since opening the tournament with a double on the first hole.

European — Thomas Aiken shot a 4-under 69 for an 8-under 136 total to take a one-stroke lead in the Spanish Open at Terrassa.

Tiger Woods will return to competition at The Players Championship, which starts Thursday.

A PGA Tour official confirmed that Woods is entered in the tournament that he won in 2001.

Woods decided not to play at Quail Hollow because of what he called a minor injury to his left knee from hitting a shot in the third round at the Masters.

The PGA selected Bellerive Country Club of St. Louis to serve as the site of the 2013 Senior PGA Championship and the 2018 PGA Championship.