History of Nick Faldo in Timeline
Sir Nick Faldo is a retired English professional golfer celebrated as one of the sport's all-time greats. He held the No. 1 position in the Official World Golf Ranking for 97 weeks, demonstrating his dominance. Faldo accumulated 41 professional wins, including 30 on the European Tour. He secured six major championships, winning three Open Championships and three Masters Tournaments.
1914: Harry Vardon's last major win
Harry Vardon's last major win was in 1914. He has more major victories than Faldo.
July 1957: Birth of Nick Faldo
In July 1957, Nicholas Alexander Faldo was born. He would later become a renowned professional golfer and television commentator, known for his dedication and achievements in the sport.
1957: Birth in Welwyn Garden City
In 1957, Nick Faldo was born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, as the only child of Joyce and George Faldo.
1965: Jack Nicklaus's First Back-to-Back Masters Win
In 1965, Jack Nicklaus was the first player to win back-to-back Masters titles since 1965-66.
1970: Tony Jacklin's Major Win
In 1970, Tony Jacklin became the first British player to hold both major national championships, a feat Faldo aimed to replicate at the 1988 U.S. Open.
1971: Discovery of Golf
In 1971, at the age of 14, Faldo became "hooked" on golf after watching Jack Nicklaus play the Masters on his parents' new color television, marking his first exposure to the game.
November 1974: Missed Walker Cup Place
In November 1974, Faldo's successes came too late to gain a Walker Cup place that year, as the team was selected in November 1974 and the match was played in late May.
November 1975: Commonwealth Tournament Representation
In November 1975, Faldo represented Great Britain in the Commonwealth Tournament in South Africa.
1975: Failed to qualify for the Open as an amateur
In 1975, Nick Faldo failed to qualify for the Open Championship as an amateur.
1976: Turned Professional
In 1976, Faldo turned professional and joined the European Professional Golfers Association.
1977: Ryder Cup Player
In 1977, Faldo became the youngest Ryder Cup player at the age of 20, winning all three of his matches, including a win over Jack Nicklaus and an astonishing singles victory over Tom Watson.
1978: Success on the European Tour
In 1978, Faldo achieved success on the European Tour, finishing third on the Order of Merit and winning a European Tour event.
1979: Married Melanie Rockall
In 1979, Nick Faldo married Melanie Rockall, whom he had met when he was 21.
1979: Seve Ballesteros's major wins
Seve Ballesteros won five majors from 1979 to 1988.
1980: Sun Alliance PGA Championship Win
In 1980, Faldo won the Sun Alliance PGA Championship in England.
1981: Consecutive Sun Alliance PGA Championship Win
In 1981, Faldo won his second consecutive Sun Alliance PGA Championship in England.
1982: Tom Watson's Major Wins
In 1982, Tom Watson was the last golfer to win two majors in the same year. Faldo would match this feat in 1990.
1983: Order of Merit Victory
In 1983, Faldo finished top of the Order of Merit with five European Tour victories.
1984: Drought Ends with Spanish Open Win
In 1984, Faldo had not won a European Tour event until his victory at the Peugeot Spanish Open in May 1987, which ended his winless drought.
1986: Married Gill Bennett
In 1986, Nick Faldo married Gill Bennett, and the couple had three children.
May 1987: Peugeot Spanish Open Victory
In May 1987, Faldo won the Peugeot Spanish Open, marking his first European Tour victory since 1984 and restoring his confidence.
July 1987: First Major Title at The Open Championship
In July 1987, Nick Faldo claimed his first major title at The Open Championship at Muirfield, winning by one shot after a steady final round of parring every hole.
1987: Start of Faldo's dominance
From 1987 through 1996, Nick Faldo secured six professional major tournament wins, surpassing all other players globally.
1987: 18 consecutive pars at the Open Championship
In 1987, Nick Faldo had a final round of 18 consecutive pars at the Open Championship, exemplifying steady play under pressure.
1987: The Open Championship Victory
In 1987, Nick Faldo won his first major championship at The Open Championship.
1987: Open Championship win after Paul Azinger's mistake
Nick Faldo's Open Championship win in 1987 came after mistakes in the closing two holes by Paul Azinger.
1988: U.S. Open Playoff Loss
In 1988, Faldo tied for the lead at the U.S. Open but lost in an 18-hole playoff to Curtis Strange by four strokes.
1988: Lost to Curtis Strange in U.S. Open playoff
In 1988, Nick Faldo lost to Curtis Strange in the U.S. Open playoff.
1988: Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
In the 1988 New Year Honours, Nick Faldo was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to golf.
1988: Seve Ballesteros's major wins
Seve Ballesteros won five majors from 1979 to 1988.
1989: Masters Victory
In 1989, Faldo won the Masters after a playoff with Scott Hoch, marking his second major championship.
1989: European Tour Player of the Year
In 1989, Nick Faldo was named the European Tour Player of the Year.
1989: BBC Sports Personality of the Year
In 1989, Nick Faldo was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
1989: Masters win after Scott Hoch's mistake
Nick Faldo's Masters win in 1989 came after Scott Hoch missed a short putt.
1990: Peter Dobereiner on Faldo's drive for perfection
In 1990, British golf writer Peter Dobereiner suggested that Nick Faldo was "obsessively driven by the impossible dream of technical perfection."
1990: Third Place Finish at U.S. Open
In 1990, Faldo finished tied for 3rd place at the U.S. Open at Medinah Country Club, narrowly missing out on a playoff by one stroke.
1990: Masters Title Defence
In 1990, Faldo successfully defended his title at the Masters, winning in a playoff against Raymond Floyd. He became the first player to win back-to-back Masters titles since Jack Nicklaus in 1965-66.
1990: Multiple Victories
In 1990, Nick Faldo achieved significant success, including winning the Open Championship and the Masters Tournament.
1990: PGA Tour Player of the Year
In 1990, Nick Faldo was named the PGA Tour Player of the Year.
1990: Masters win after Raymond Floyd's mistake
Nick Faldo's Masters win in 1990 occurred after Raymond Floyd hit into a pond.
1991: Launched Faldo Design
In 1991, Nick Faldo launched his golf course design practice, Faldo Design.
1992: European Tour Order of Merit Win
In 1992, Faldo claimed the European Tour Order of Merit a second time and broke the record for worldwide earnings with £1,558,978.
1992: Shot a 64 at Muirfield
In 1992, Nick Faldo carded a round of 64 at Muirfield during the Open Championship.
1992: European Tour Player of the Year
In 1992, Nick Faldo was named the European Tour Player of the Year.
1992: Third Open Championship Win
In 1992, Nick Faldo won his third Open Championship at Muirfield, overcoming a lost lead and finishing one stroke ahead of John Cook.
1992: Emotional Open Victory
In 1992, after winning the Open Championship at Muirfield, Faldo displayed visible emotion, a departure from his stoic image.
1992: Open Championship win after John Cook's mistake
Nick Faldo's Open Championship win in 1992 was after mistakes in the closing two holes by John Cook.
July 1993: Carroll's Irish Open Win
In July 1993, Faldo won the Carroll's Irish Open for a third consecutive time after a playoff with José María Olazábal.
1993: Shot a 63 at Royal St George's
In 1993, Nick Faldo carded a round of 63 at Royal St George's during the Open Championship.
1994: Shot a 64 at Turnberry
In 1994, Nick Faldo carded a round of 64 at Turnberry during the Open Championship.
1995: Focus on the U.S. PGA Tour
In 1995, Faldo decided to concentrate on playing on the U.S. PGA Tour, with the goal of winning further major championships.
1995: Marriage to Gill Bennett ended
In 1995, Nick Faldo's marriage to Gill Bennett ended after he began a relationship with Brenna Cepelak.
April 1996: Masters Victory
In April 1996, Nick Faldo won a famous victory at Augusta to collect his sixth and final major championship.
1996: Masters Victory and Subsequent Career
After Faldo's victory at the 1996 Masters, he only secured one more tournament win in his career at the 1997 Nissan Open in Los Angeles. As Faldo entered his forties, his form gradually declined and he devoted more time to off-course activities.
1996: End of Faldo's dominance
From 1987 through 1996, Nick Faldo secured six professional major tournament wins, surpassing all other players globally.
1996: Launched the Faldo Series
In 1996, Nick Faldo launched the Faldo Series to provide opportunities to young golfers under the age of 21 from around the world.
1996: Masters Tournament Victory
In 1996, Nick Faldo secured another victory at the Masters Tournament, adding to his collection of major championship wins.
1996: 1996 Masters Win
In 1996, Nick Faldo won the Masters after Greg Norman's collapse, shooting a final round of 67 to win by five shots.
1996: Masters win after Greg Norman's collapse
Nick Faldo's Masters win in 1996 resulted from a collapse by Greg Norman.
1997: Nissan Open Win
In 1997, Faldo won the Nissan Open in Los Angeles at the age of 39.
1997: Established The Faldo Golf Institute
In 1997, Nick Faldo, along with the Marriott hotel chain, established The Faldo Golf Institute, a golf instructional programme.
1998: Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
In 1998, Nick Faldo was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
1998: Ended partnership with David Leadbetter
In 1998, Nick Faldo's partnership with David Leadbetter ended when Faldo dispensed with his services by letter.
2000: Ranked 18th greatest golfer of all time by Golf Digest
In 2000, Nick Faldo was ranked the 18th greatest golfer of all time by Golf Digest magazine.
July 2001: Married Valerie Bercher
In July 2001, Nick Faldo married Valerie Bercher in a lavish ceremony at his Windsor home.
2001: Last Regular Season on PGA Tour
In 2001, Faldo's last season playing regularly on the PGA Tour. Afterwards, he refocused on the European Tour and consistently played less than a full schedule.
2002: Creditable Finish at U.S. Open
In 2002, a month before his 45th birthday, Faldo finished in a very creditable position of tied for 5th place at the U.S. Open.
2003: Last Top-10 Finish in Major Championship
At the 2003 Open Championship at Royal St George's, Faldo finished in a tie for eighth place. It was Faldo's last top-10 finish in a major championship.
2003: Leadbetter on Faldo
In 2003, David Leadbetter commented on Nick Faldo, stating that he wasn't the most popular guy and didn't try to win friends.
2003: Birth of daughter Emma
In 2003, Nick Faldo and Valerie Bercher had a daughter named Emma.
2003: Sandy Jones on Faldo's career
In 2003, PGA chief executive Sandy Jones stated that Faldo's career achievements position him as Britain's best golfer of all time.
2004: Broadcaster for ABC Sports' PGA Tour coverage
In 2004, Nick Faldo began broadcasting for ABC Sports' PGA Tour coverage, working alongside Paul Azinger and Mike Tirico. Faldo's dry wit and insightful commentary surprised many fans.
2005: Increasingly sporadic appearances in tournaments
After 2005, Faldo's appearances in professional golf tournaments became increasingly sporadic.
2005: Curtis Strange on Nick Faldo
In 2005, Curtis Strange said that Nick Faldo stared a lot of guys down, but he was proud of beating him in the 1988 U.S. Open playoff.
May 2006: Filed for divorce from Valerie Bercher
In May 2006, Nick Faldo filed for divorce from Valerie Bercher.
October 2006: Signed with CBS as lead golf analyst
In October 2006, Faldo signed a contract with CBS to replace Lanny Wadkins as their lead golf analyst, which Faldo viewed as a "fabulous opportunity". This decision significantly curtailed his playing career, causing him to miss the 2007 Masters.
2006: Lead Golf Analyst for CBS Sports
In 2006, Faldo became the lead golf analyst for CBS Sports, transitioning into a role as a television commentator.
2006: Broadcaster for ABC Sports' PGA Tour coverage
In 2006, Nick Faldo continued broadcasting for ABC Sports' PGA Tour coverage, working alongside Paul Azinger and Mike Tirico. Faldo's dry wit and insightful commentary continued to be a part of the ABC team's broadcast.
2006: Played in the Masters and Open Championship
In 2006, Nick Faldo played in the Masters and at the Open Championship, as well as two events on the European Tour.
2007: Played in the Open at Carnoustie and Senior British Open
In 2007, Faldo did not appear in any regular tour events in the first half of the year. He played in the 2007 Open at Carnoustie, missing the cut. He finished tied for 14th in the Senior British Open, his first Champions Tour event.
2007: Brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz
In 2007, Mercedes-Benz signed Nick Faldo to act as a brand ambassador to promote the revival of the Maybach brand of ultra-luxury automobiles.
2008: Did not take part in the Open at Royal Birkdale
In 2008, Nick Faldo did not participate in the Open at Royal Birkdale, marking the first time he had not taken part in the competition since 1975.
2008: Captain of the European Ryder Cup team
In 2008, Nick Faldo was selected as captain of the European Ryder Cup team. The Team USA won, ending Team Europe's streak of three successive victories.
2009: Reunion telecast for the Presidents Cup
In 2009, Azinger joined Faldo and Brian Hammons on Golf Channel for the Presidents Cup, marking a reunion telecast for the analysts.
2009: Entered the Open at Turnberry
In 2009, Nick Faldo entered the Open at Turnberry but missed the 36-hole cut.
2009: Made a Knight Bachelor
In the 2009 Birthday Honours, Nick Faldo was made a Knight Bachelor for services to golf.
2010: Entered the Open at St Andrews
In 2010, Nick Faldo entered the Open at St Andrews but missed the 36-hole cut.
2011: Did not take part in the Open at Royal St George's
In 2011, Nick Faldo opted not to participate in the Open at Royal St George's.
2012: Snedeker Ties Open Record
In 2012, Brandt Snedeker tied Faldo's Open Championship record for the lowest first 36 holes.
2013: Competed at the Open at Muirfield
In 2013, Nick Faldo competed at the Open at Muirfield but missed the cut.
September 2014: Recipient of the Payne Stewart Award
On September 9, 2014, Nick Faldo was announced as the recipient of the Payne Stewart Award.
2015: Final Open Championship appearance at St Andrews
In 2015, Nick Faldo decided to make the Open at St Andrews his final Open Championship appearance.
December 2020: Married Lindsay De Marco
In December 2020, Nick Faldo married his fourth wife, Lindsay De Marco, in the Florida Keys.
August 2022: Retired from CBS
In August 2022, Nick Faldo retired from CBS after 16 years in the broadcast booth. His final regular broadcast was at the Wyndham Championship.
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