Nick Faldo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir Nick Faldo MBE
Faldo in 2021
Personal information
Full name	Nicholas Alexander Faldo
Born	(1957-07-18) 18 July 1957 (age 68) Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England
Height	6 ft 3 in
Weight	13.9 st (195 lb; 88 kg)
Nationality	England
Residence	Bozeman, Montana, U.S.
Spouse	Melanie Rockall ​ ​ (m. 1979; div. 1984)​ Gill Bennett ​ ​ (m. 1986; div. 1995)​ Valerie Bercher ​ ​ (m. 2001; div. 2006)​ Lindsay De Marco ​ (m. 2020)​
Children	4
Career
College	University of Houston
Turned professional	1976
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour European Tour Southern Africa Tour PGA Tour Champions
Professional wins	43
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	9
European Tour	30 (5th all-time)
Sunshine Tour	1
Other	9
Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 6)
The Masters Tournament	Won: 1989, 1990, 1996
U.S. Open	2nd: 1988
The Open Championship	Won: 1987, 1990, 1992
PGA Championship	T2: 1992
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame	1997
Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year	1977
European Tour official money list winner/ Order of Merit winner	1983, 1992
European Tour Golfer of the Year	1989, 1990, 1992
PGA Player of the Year	1990
Payne Stewart Award	2014

Sir Nicholas Alexander Faldo (born 18 July 1957) is a retired English professional golfer and television commentator. Many people consider him one of the greatest golfers of all time. He was known for his hard work and dedication to the sport.

Faldo was ranked as the No. 1 golfer in the world for a total of 97 weeks. He won 41 professional tournaments. This includes six major championships, which are the most important events in golf. He won three Open Championships (1987, 1990, 1992) and three Masters (1989, 1990, 1996).

After retiring from playing full-time, Faldo became a well-known TV commentator for golf tournaments. He worked for CBS Sports and the BBC.

Early Life and Getting Started in Golf

Nick Faldo was born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England. He was the only child of Joyce and George Faldo. He became interested in golf when he was 14 years old. He had never even held a golf club before.

He was inspired after watching the famous golfer Jack Nicklaus play in the 1971 Masters on his family's new color TV. After that, Faldo said the only thing he wanted to do was get out of school and go to the golf course.

In 1975, he won two important amateur tournaments: the English Amateur and the British Youths Open Amateur Championship. His talent earned him a golf scholarship to the University of Houston in the United States. However, he left after ten weeks because he felt school was hurting his golf game.

Professional Golf Career

Faldo became a professional golfer in 1976. He quickly found success on the European Tour. In 1977, at age 20, he became the youngest player at the time to compete in the Ryder Cup, a famous team event between Europe and the USA.

Changing His Swing to Win Majors

In the mid-1980s, Faldo decided to completely rebuild his golf swing. He worked with a coach named David Leadbetter. Many people thought this was a risky move, but Faldo wanted to become good enough to win major championships.

The hard work paid off. In 1987, he won his first major, The Open Championship at Muirfield. In the final round, he played incredibly steady golf, making a par on all 18 holes to win by one shot.

Winning the Masters and More Opens

Faldo won his first Masters Tournament in 1989 in a dramatic playoff. He made a 25-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole to win. The next year, in 1990, he won the Masters again, becoming the first player since Jack Nicklaus to win back-to-back Masters titles.

That same year, he also won his second Open Championship at the famous St Andrews course in Scotland. He won his third Open Championship in 1992, again at Muirfield. After this emotional win, he was seen crying, and later said, "I thought I'd blown it."

The Famous 1996 Masters Victory

Faldo in July 2008

In 1995, Faldo began playing more on the PGA Tour in the United States. In 1996, he had one of the most famous wins in golf history at the Masters. He started the final day six shots behind the leader, Greg Norman.

Norman had a difficult final round, but Faldo played brilliantly under pressure. He shot a 67 to win by five strokes. After the tournament, Faldo hugged Norman and comforted him, showing great sportsmanship. They later became good friends.

Later Career

After his 1996 Masters win, Faldo's form began to decline as he got older. His last big tournament win was the Nissan Open in 1997. He continued to play in major championships for many years. His last top-10 finish in a major was at the 2003 Open Championship, where he finished eighth.

Faldo played his final Open Championship in 2015 at St Andrews, the same place where he had won 25 years earlier.

Achievements and Legacy

Faldo is one of the most successful European golfers in history. He has won more major championships than any European player since World War I. For much of the early 1990s, he was considered the best golfer in the world.

He is also one of the greatest Ryder Cup players ever. He represented Team Europe 11 times, which is a record. He won 25 points for his team, helping Europe become very competitive in the event.

In 2009, Faldo was made a Knight Bachelor by the Queen for his services to golf, which is why he is called Sir Nick Faldo.

Playing Style

Faldo was known for his amazing calmness under pressure. His final round of 18 straight pars to win the 1987 Open is a perfect example of his steady play. He was not the most powerful player, but he was excellent at controlling the distance of his shots and managing his way around the golf course.

He was also known for his intense focus and hard work. His coach, David Leadbetter, said Faldo would hit hundreds of golf balls every single day, even in the hot Florida sun. This dedication helped him become one of the best.

Life After Playing

Broadcasting

After he stopped playing regularly, Faldo became a golf analyst for television. He worked for ABC and later CBS in the United States. Fans enjoyed his dry, British sense of humor and his expert comments on the game. He retired from broadcasting in 2022.

Golf Course Design

In 1991, Faldo started his own golf course design company, Faldo Design. He has designed courses all over the world, in countries like China, Germany, Ireland, and the United States.

Faldo Series

In 1996, he started the Faldo Series, a series of golf tournaments for young players under 21. The goal is to give talented young golfers a chance to compete and develop their skills. Famous golfers like Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng played in the Faldo Series when they were young.

Personal Life

Faldo has been married four times and has four children. He currently lives in Bozeman, Montana, in the United States.

See also

In Spanish: Nick Faldo para niños