Even through the mists that enveloped the Causeway Coast yesterday and led to prolonged delays in the Amateur Championship, you could clearly see what Jose Maria Olazabal meant about Javier Ballesteros.
“When I first saw Javier play, I saw Seve,” said the great friend of the Spaniard earlier this year.
“He has his father’s mannerisms, particularly the way he stands over the ball.”
On the range at Portstewart, the stance, the look, even the voice were uncannily similar.
The 23-year-old eldest son of the great three-time Open champion, the icon of European golf who died tragically early three years ago, sparks vivid memories.
At the moment, juggling the tail end of a law degree at a Madrid university, his play does not quite match up to his dad’s, an 81 on the first day of qualifying for the Amateur at Royal Portrush showing he needs more seasoning, especially at links golf.
But at a handicap of plus 2.7, Javier is serious about his golf and about being a professional.
“I am studying the law but would like to think golf is my future,” he said.
“It’s my first full season on the amateur circuit, and it’s difficult and different.”
Javier’s first foray into the amateur circuit could hardly have been more fitting, at the Lytham Trophy in May, where his dad won two of his Claret Jugs.
Javier hopes to be in Scotland in August to play the European Individual Amateur Championship at the Duke’s near St Andrews, but back on the Causeway Coast the fog left little to do but practice.
Only a handful of players got as far as the third hole of their second qualifying round before the fog closed in, and although conditions intermittently cleared to allow play to restart, it was only for a matter of minutes before the mist came back.
In the end, at 5.30pm, R&A director of amateur events Euan Mordaunt suspended play for the day at Portrush with the first groups only reaching the turn, while a suspension soon followed at Portstewart with only six groups completed. Play is due to resume at 7.30 this morning.
The matchplay stages due to have started this morning do give some leeway towards fitting the full championship schedule into the time left this week, but the aim is simply to complete the 36 holes qualifying and to re-assess the situation when that is done.
Leading Scottish players were advanced in their rounds at Portstewart before the final suspension, with Stirling University star Jack McDonald four-under for his round, two-under in total after nine holes.
Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil was two-over after 12, a total of four-over for the qualifying competition.