Career Timeline of Nick Faldo: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Nick Faldo, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Sir Nick Faldo is a retired English professional golfer and current television commentator. Recognized as one of golf's all-time greats, he achieved the world No. 1 ranking for 97 weeks. Faldo's career highlights include 41 professional wins, with 30 on the European Tour, and six major championships: three Open Championships and three Masters Tournaments solidifying his place in golfing history.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

November 1974: Missed Walker Cup Selection

In November 1974, Nick Faldo's successes came too late to secure a place in that year's Walker Cup team, as the team had already been selected.

November 1975: Commonwealth Tournament Representation

In November 1975, Nick Faldo represented Great Britain in the Commonwealth Tournament held in South Africa.

1976: Turns Professional

In 1976, Nick Faldo turned professional and joined the European Professional Golfers Association.

1977: European Tour Successes and Ryder Cup Debut

In 1977, Nick Faldo achieved early success on the European Tour, finishing eighth on the Order of Merit. He also became the youngest Ryder Cup player at the age of 20, winning all three of his matches.

1978: European Tour Success

In 1978, Nick Faldo continued his success on the European Tour, finishing third in the Order of Merit.

1980: Sun Alliance PGA Championship Win

In 1980, Nick Faldo won the Sun Alliance PGA Championship in England.

1981: Second Sun Alliance PGA Championship Win

In 1981, Nick Faldo secured his second consecutive Sun Alliance PGA Championship in England.

1983: Order of Merit Victory

In 1983, Nick Faldo finished top of the Order of Merit, achieving five European Tour victories.

1984: Drought Before Spanish Open Win

In 1984, Nick Faldo had not won any European Tour events since this year, making the Peugeot Spanish Open victory in 1987 all the more significant.

May 1987: Peugeot Spanish Open Victory

In May 1987, Nick Faldo won the Peugeot Spanish Open, marking his first European Tour victory since 1984 and a turning point in restoring his confidence after swing changes.

July 1987: First Major Title at The Open Championship

In July 1987, Nick Faldo secured his first major title at The Open Championship held at Muirfield. He won by one shot after solid and steady play in the final round amidst cool, misty weather conditions.

1987: First Open Championship Win

In 1987, Nick Faldo won his first major championship at The Open Championship.

1988: Second Place at the U.S Open

In 1988, Nick Faldo tied for the lead with Curtis Strange at the U.S. Open after 72 holes, but Strange won the 18-hole playoff by four strokes the following day.

1989: Victory at the Masters

In 1989, Nick Faldo secured victory at the Masters after a playoff with Scott Hoch, marking a significant achievement in his career.

1989: First Masters Win

In 1989, Nick Faldo won his first Masters Tournament after a playoff with Scott Hoch.

1990: Second Open Championship and Masters Titles

In 1990, Nick Faldo achieved victory at both the Open Championship and the Masters Tournament, marking a significant year in his career.

1990: U.S. Open

In 1990, Nick Faldo finished tied for 3rd place at the U.S. Open at Medinah Country Club, missing out on an 18-hole playoff by one stroke.

1990: Masters Title Defense

In 1990, Nick Faldo successfully defended his Masters title, winning in a playoff against Raymond Floyd. He became the first player since Jack Nicklaus in 1965-66 to win back-to-back Masters titles.

1992: European Tour Order of Merit Victory

In 1992, Nick Faldo claimed the European Tour Order of Merit for a second time. He earned £1,558,978 worldwide, breaking the existing record.

1992: Third Open Championship Title

In 1992, Nick Faldo secured his third Open Championship, further solidifying his legacy in the sport.

1992: Emotional Open Win

In 1992, after winning the Open Championship at Muirfield, Nick Faldo displayed visible emotion, trembling and shedding tears, a departure from his stoic image.

July 1993: Carroll's Irish Open Win

In July 1993, Nick Faldo won the Carroll's Irish Open for an unprecedented third time in a row, defeating José María Olazábal in a sudden-death playoff. Later that month, he dueled Greg Norman in the Open Championship, finishing runner-up.

1995: Focus on U.S. PGA Tour

In 1995, Nick Faldo decided to concentrate on playing on the U.S. PGA Tour with the aim of winning more major championships.

April 1996: Masters Victory

In April 1996, Nick Faldo won a famous victory at Augusta to collect his sixth and final major championship.

1996: Sixth and Final Major Championship

In 1996, Nick Faldo secured his sixth and final major championship at the Masters Tournament.

1996: Third Masters Win

In 1996, Nick Faldo won his third Masters Tournament.

1996: Masters Victory and Words of Encouragement

In 1996, Nick Faldo won the Masters after Greg Norman's collapse. Faldo hugged Norman after the win and offered words of encouragement, leading to a lasting friendship.

1997: Nissan Open Victory

In 1997, at the age of 39, Nick Faldo achieved his last tournament win at the Nissan Open in Los Angeles.

2001: Final Regular Season on PGA Tour

In 2001, Nick Faldo played his last season regularly on the PGA Tour before refocusing on the European Tour with a reduced schedule.

2002: Creditable Finish at the U.S. Open

In 2002, a month before his 45th birthday, Nick Faldo finished in a creditable position of tied for 5th place at the U.S. Open.

2003: Last Top-10 Finish in a Major

In 2003, Nick Faldo finished in a tie for eighth place at the Open Championship at Royal St George's, marking his last top-10 finish in a major championship.