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Nick Faldo

England · born , Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England

6major championships

Summary

  • First major 1987 The Open
  • Last major 1996 The Masters
  • Ryder Cup 11 Cups · 23-19-4 · 25 points (54.3%)
  • Ryder Cup captain 2008
  • Runner-up in majors 3 times

Wins

  1. 1987 The Open Muirfield · 279 (-5) · by 1 stroke from Paul Azinger and Rodger Davis
  2. 1989 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · 283 (-5) · won a playoff against Scott Hoch
  3. 1990 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · 278 (-10) · won a playoff against Raymond Floyd
  4. 1990 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · 270 (-18) · by 5 strokes from Mark McNulty and Payne Stewart
  5. 1992 The Open Muirfield · 272 (-12) · by 1 stroke from John Cook
  6. 1996 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · 276 (-12) · by 5 strokes from Greg Norman

Near misses

  1. 1978 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · finished T7 · 285 (-3)
  2. 1982 The Open Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course) · finished T4 · 286 (-2)
  3. 1983 The Open Royal Birkdale Golf Club · finished T8 · 280 (-4)
  4. 1984 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · finished T6 · 282 (-6)
  5. 1986 The Open Turnberry (Ailsa Course) · finished 5 · 287 (+7)
  6. 1988 U.S. Open The Country Club · runner-up to Curtis Strange · playoff: 18 holes, 71–75
  7. 1988 The Open Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club · finished 3 · 279 (-5)
  8. 1992 PGA Championship Bellerive Country Club · runner-up to Nick Price · 281
  9. 1993 The Open Royal St George's Golf Club · runner-up to Greg Norman · 269
  10. 1994 The Open Turnberry (Ailsa Course) · finished T8 · 275 (-5)
  11. 1996 The Open Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club · finished 4 · 274 (-10)
  12. 2003 The Open Royal St George's Golf Club · finished T8 · 287 (+3)

Ryder Cup

11 Cups, 46 matches: 23 won, 19 lost, 4 halved, 25 points. Foursomes 10-6-2, four-ball 7-9-1, singles 6-4-1.

  1. 1977 Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club GB&I · USA won 12.5–7.5 · 3-0-0, 3 points
  2. 1979 The Greenbrier (Greenbrier Course) Europe · USA won 17–11 · 3-1-0, 3 points · automatic
  3. 1981 Walton Heath Golf Club Europe · USA won 18.5–9.5 · 1-2-0, 1 point · automatic
  4. 1983 PGA National Golf Club Europe · USA won 14.5–13.5 · 4-1-0, 4 points · automatic
  5. 1985 The Belfry (Brabazon Course) Europe · Europe won 16.5–11.5 · 0-2-0, 0 points · captain's pick
  6. 1987 Muirfield Village Golf Club Europe · Europe won 15–13 · 3-1-1, 3.5 points · automatic
  7. 1989 The Belfry (Brabazon Course) Europe · tied 14–14 · 2-2-1, 2.5 points · automatic
  8. 1991 The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island Golf Resort Europe · USA won 14.5–13.5 · 1-3-0, 1 point · captain's pick
  9. 1993 The Belfry (Brabazon Course) Europe · USA won 15–13 · 2-1-2, 3 points · automatic
  10. 1995 Oak Hill Country Club (East Course) Europe · Europe won 14.5–13.5 · 2-3-0, 2 points · captain's pick
  11. 1997 Valderrama Golf Club Europe · Europe won 14.5–13.5 · 2-3-0, 2 points · captain's pick
  12. 2008 Captain Europe · lost 11.5–16.5

Rivals

Beat him

Beaten in finals and playoffs

Ryder Cup partners

Ryder Cup opponents

Next in the chain: Curtis Strange's rivals →

Moments

  1. 1987 Open Faldo made 18 straight pars in the final round, including a 30-yard bunker shot to 4 feet at the 8th, and holed a 4-footer at the 18th.
  2. 1987 Open Azinger, leading on the back nine, drove into a fairway bunker at the par-5 17th and made 6, then bunkered his approach at the 18th and bogeyed again.
  3. 1989 Masters Scott Hoch missed a two-foot putt to win on the first playoff hole, and Faldo birdied the next hole to win.
  4. 1989 Masters Faldo shot a final-round 65 to come from five strokes back and became the first English Masters champion.
  5. 1990 Masters Faldo became only the second player, after Jack Nicklaus in 1965-66, to win back-to-back Masters, both in playoffs.
  6. 1990 Masters Raymond Floyd, 48, hit his approach into the water on the second playoff hole, the 11th, ending his bid to become the oldest Masters champion.
  7. 1990 Open In round 1, Faldo holed a pitch-and-run from the Valley of Sin for an eagle 2 at the 18th. His 199 after 54 holes was a record.
  8. 1990 Open Payne Stewart got within two of Faldo in the final round before driving into the Coffin bunkers at the 13th (Golf Compendium says the 12th; the R&A figure is used).
  9. 1992 Open Two behind John Cook with four holes to play, Faldo hit a "half 5-iron" to 3 feet at the 15th for a birdie.
  10. 1992 Open Cook missed a birdie putt of under 3 feet at the par-5 17th and bogeyed the 18th, and Faldo two-putted from 25 feet at the last to win.
  11. 1996 Masters Greg Norman opened with a 63 and led by six strokes after 54 holes, then shot 78 in the final round while Faldo closed with 67 to win by five.
  12. 1996 Masters It was Faldo's third Masters title; none of the amateurs, including 20-year-old Tiger Woods, made the cut.
  13. 1977 Ryder Cup 20-year-old Nick Faldo, then the youngest Ryder Cup player, went 3-0, including a 1 up singles win over Tom Watson.
  14. 1993 Ryder Cup Nick Faldo made the second hole-in-one in Ryder Cup history (14th hole) in his halved singles with Paul Azinger.

Records and firsts

  1. 1942 Masters Most playoffs (player) · 2 (Hogan 1942, 1954 (lost both); Faldo 1989, 1990 (won both); Cabrera 2009 (won), 2013 (lost); Rose 2017, 2025 (lost both)) (Ben Hogan; Nick Faldo; Angel Cabrera; Justin Rose)
  2. 1989 Masters Back-to-back Masters champion: (1989; 1990)
  3. 1989 Masters First Masters champion from: England
  4. — Ryder Cup Most points, Europe #2 · 25 · 23-19-4
  5. — Ryder Cup Most appearances, Europe · 11 · Langer and García 10 (Nick Faldo; Lee Westwood)
  6. 1977 Ryder Cup Youngest Europe #2 · 20y 59d
  7. 1993 Ryder Cup Ryder Cup hole-in-one: 14th, The Belfry · Singles

Results by championship

    Best day

    1989 Masters

    Augusta National Golf Club · 283 (-5) · won a playoff against Scott Hoch (Hole 1: Faldo bogey, Hoch bogey (missed a two-foot putt to win); Hole 2: Faldo birdie (about 25-foot putt))

    Scott Hoch missed a two-foot putt to win on the first playoff hole, and Faldo birdied the next hole to win.

    Faldo shot a final-round 65 to come from five strokes back and became the first English Masters champion.

    Record: England

    Chosen by rule: the major win our record tables single out. Year page: 1989.

    Career line, 1977–2003

    Masters
    1989 Masters: won1990 Masters: won1996 Masters: won
    PGA Championship
    1992 PGA Championship: runner-up to Nick Price
    U.S. Open
    1988 U.S. Open: runner-up to Curtis Strange
    The Open
    1978 The Open: finished T71982 The Open: finished T41983 The Open: finished T81984 The Open: finished T61986 The Open: finished 51987 The Open: won1988 The Open: finished 31990 The Open: won1992 The Open: won1993 The Open: runner-up to Greg Norman1994 The Open: finished T81996 The Open: finished 42003 The Open: finished T8
    Ryder Cup
    1977 Ryder Cup (GB&I): 3-0-01979 Ryder Cup (Europe): 3-1-01981 Ryder Cup (Europe): 1-2-01983 Ryder Cup (Europe): 4-1-01985 Ryder Cup (Europe): 0-2-01987 Ryder Cup (Europe): 3-1-11989 Ryder Cup (Europe): 2-2-11991 Ryder Cup (Europe): 1-3-01993 Ryder Cup (Europe): 2-1-21995 Ryder Cup (Europe): 2-3-01997 Ryder Cup (Europe): 2-3-0
    198019902000

    29 results. Hover or tap a mark; click it for the year.

    • Major win
    • Runner-up
    • Top 10
    • Ryder Cup, GB / Europe

    Nick Faldo was born on July 18, 1957, in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England. Faldo won 6 major championships: 3 Masters (1989, 1990, 1996) and 3 Open Championships (1987, 1990, 1992). Faldo played in 11 Ryder Cups for GB&I and Europe (1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997), winning 23, losing 19 and halving 4 of 46 matches for 25 points, and captained the side in 2008.

    See Nick Faldo in our rooms: The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open and Every Ground.

    Cards you pull this visit stack here. Tap one to go back to it.

    The record

    Wins in the majors (6)

    1. 1987 The Open Muirfield · 279 (-5) · by 1 stroke from Paul Azinger and Rodger Davis
    2. 1989 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · 283 (-5) · won a playoff against Scott Hoch (Hole 1: Faldo bogey, Hoch bogey (missed a two-foot putt to win); Hole 2: Faldo birdie (about 25-foot putt))
    3. 1990 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · 278 (-10) · won a playoff against Raymond Floyd (Hole 10: Faldo par, Floyd par; Hole 11: Faldo par (tap-in), Floyd hit approach into the water)
    4. 1990 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · 270 (-18) · by 5 strokes from Mark McNulty and Payne Stewart
    5. 1992 The Open Muirfield · 272 (-12) · by 1 stroke from John Cook
    6. 1996 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · 276 (-12) · by 5 strokes from Greg Norman

    Near misses

    Top-10 finishes are listed for The Open, the one championship with a full top 10 every year.

    1. 1978 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · finished T7 · 285 (-3)
    2. 1982 The Open Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course) · finished T4 · 286 (-2)
    3. 1983 The Open Royal Birkdale Golf Club · finished T8 · 280 (-4)
    4. 1984 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · finished T6 · 282 (-6)
    5. 1986 The Open Turnberry (Ailsa Course) · finished 5 · 287 (+7)
    6. 1988 U.S. Open The Country Club · runner-up to Curtis Strange · playoff: 18 holes, 71–75
    7. 1988 The Open Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club · finished 3 · 279 (-5)
    8. 1992 PGA Championship Bellerive Country Club · runner-up to Nick Price · 281
    9. 1993 The Open Royal St George's Golf Club · runner-up to Greg Norman · 269
    10. 1994 The Open Turnberry (Ailsa Course) · finished T8 · 275 (-5)
    11. 1996 The Open Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club · finished 4 · 274 (-10)
    12. 2003 The Open Royal St George's Golf Club · finished T8 · 287 (+3)

    U.S. Open top-10 finishes in his career: 5 (GNN U.S. Open room data).

    Ryder Cup

    Faldo played 11 Ryder Cups for GB&I and Europe: 46 matches, 23 won, 19 lost, 4 halved, 25 points (54.3% of those available). By format: foursomes 10-6-2, four-ball 7-9-1, singles 6-4-1 (won-lost-halved).

    1. 1977 Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club GB&I · USA won 12.5–7.5 · 3-0-0, 3 points
    2. 1979 The Greenbrier (Greenbrier Course) Europe · USA won 17–11 · 3-1-0, 3 points · automatic
    3. 1981 Walton Heath Golf Club Europe · USA won 18.5–9.5 · 1-2-0, 1 point · automatic
    4. 1983 PGA National Golf Club Europe · USA won 14.5–13.5 · 4-1-0, 4 points · automatic
    5. 1985 The Belfry (Brabazon Course) Europe · Europe won 16.5–11.5 · 0-2-0, 0 points · captain's pick
    6. 1987 Muirfield Village Golf Club Europe · Europe won 15–13 · 3-1-1, 3.5 points · automatic
    7. 1989 The Belfry (Brabazon Course) Europe · tied 14–14 · 2-2-1, 2.5 points · automatic
    8. 1991 The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island Golf Resort Europe · USA won 14.5–13.5 · 1-3-0, 1 point · captain's pick
    9. 1993 The Belfry (Brabazon Course) Europe · USA won 15–13 · 2-1-2, 3 points · automatic
    10. 1995 Oak Hill Country Club (East Course) Europe · Europe won 14.5–13.5 · 2-3-0, 2 points · captain's pick
    11. 1997 Valderrama Golf Club Europe · Europe won 14.5–13.5 · 2-3-0, 2 points · captain's pick
    12. 2008 Captain Europe · lost 11.5–16.5

    Partners, with matches played together: Ian Woosnam (10), Colin Montgomerie (7), Peter Oosterhuis (6), Bernhard Langer (6), Lee Westwood (4), Sam Torrance (1), David Gilford (1).

    Masters Champions Dinner

    1990, as the 1989 champion

    1. Main course Steak and kidney pie (Faldo's own words, CNN 2016)
    2. Dessert Sherry trifle [unconfirmed: Today's Golfer 2011]

    Confidence: Reported. Menu status: Partial. Mize remembers Faldo's shepherd's pie as memorable.

    1991, as the 1990 champion

    1. Main course Shepherd's pie (Faldo's own words, CNN 2016; GOLF.com)
    2. Dessert Trifle (Faldo, CNN 2016)

    Confidence: Reported. Menu status: Partial. Back-to-back host (1990–91); sources disagree on whether he repeated the shepherd's pie.

    1997, as the 1996 champion

    1. Soup / salad Tomato soup
    2. Main course Fish (cod) and chips — Faldo, CNN 2016
    3. Dessert Jam pudding [unconfirmed: Today's Golfer 2011]

    Confidence: Reported. Menu status: Full. Faldo's third time hosting.

    Records and firsts

    Rows from our record tables that name this player, worded as the tables word them.

    1. 1942 Masters Most playoffs (player) · 2 (Hogan 1942, 1954 (lost both); Faldo 1989, 1990 (won both); Cabrera 2009 (won), 2013 (lost); Rose 2017, 2025 (lost both)) (Ben Hogan; Nick Faldo; Angel Cabrera; Justin Rose)
    2. 1989 Masters Back-to-back Masters champion: (1989; 1990)
    3. 1989 Masters First Masters champion from: England
    4. — Ryder Cup Most points, Europe #2 · 25 · 23-19-4
    5. — Ryder Cup Most appearances, Europe · 11 · Langer and García 10 (Nick Faldo; Lee Westwood)
    6. 1977 Ryder Cup Youngest Europe #2 · 20y 59d
    7. 1993 Ryder Cup Ryder Cup hole-in-one: 14th, The Belfry · Singles

    Sources

    Elsewhere: Wikipedia.

    Every fact on this page comes from Golf Network News data sets compiled in October 2026 (Masters, PGA Championship, The Open, U.S. Women's Open, Ryder Cup, PGA Tour 2024–2026, major host sites, Champions Dinner menus, and the U.S. Open and state rooms). These are the sources those rows cite.

    1. golfcompendium.com: masters winners
    2. golfcompendium.com: us open winners
    3. golfcompendium.com: pga championship winners
    4. golfcompendium.com: british open winners
    5. golfcompendium.com: most wins in major championships golf
    6. Wikipedia: Nick Faldo
    7. app.europeantour.com: who has the most wins in european tour history
    8. golfcompendium.com: european tour most wins
    9. pga.com: tiger woods masters ultimate guide
    10. WP: List of European Ryder Cup golfers
    11. R&A 1987
    12. GC 1987
    13. Wikipedia: 1989 Masters Tournament
    14. golfcompendium.com: 1989 masters
    15. nbcsports.com: by the numbers jumpsuit numbers for every masters champions caddie
    16. todays-golfer.com: how the masters prize money has changed over the years
    17. golf.com: masters purse masters winners payouts alltime
    18. Wikipedia: Masters Tournament
    19. pgatour.com: what is the cut at the masters tournament augusta national (archived copy; the original link no longer works)
    20. todays-golfer.com: cut rules
    21. golfcompendium.com: what is the cut at the masters
    22. liveabout.com: what are the yardages at augusta national during the masters 1564592
    23. Wikipedia: 1990 Masters Tournament
    24. golfcompendium.com: 1990 masters tournament
    25. irishgolfer.ie: the changing face of augusta national
    26. R&A 1990
    27. GC 1990
    28. R&A 1992
    29. GC 1992
    30. Wikipedia: 1996 Masters Tournament
    31. golfcompendium.com: 1996 masters tournament
    32. R&A 1978
    33. R&A 1982
    34. R&A 1983
    35. R&A 1984
    36. R&A 1986
    37. R&A 1988
    38. R&A 1994
    39. R&A 1996
    40. R&A 2003
    41. GC: 1977 ryder cup
    42. WP 1977
    43. GC: 1979 ryder cup
    44. Wikipedia: 1979 Ryder Cup
    45. GC: 1981 ryder cup
    46. Wikipedia: 1981 Ryder Cup
    47. GC: 1983 ryder cup
    48. Wikipedia: 1983 Ryder Cup
    49. GC: 1985 ryder cup
    50. Wikipedia: 1985 Ryder Cup
    51. GC: 1987 ryder cup
    52. Wikipedia: 1987 Ryder Cup
    53. GC: 1989 ryder cup
    54. Wikipedia: 1989 Ryder Cup
    55. GC: 1991 ryder cup
    56. Wikipedia: 1991 Ryder Cup
    57. GC: 1993 ryder cup
    58. Wikipedia: 1993 Ryder Cup
    59. GC: 1995 ryder cup
    60. Deseret News 1995
    61. Wikipedia: 1995 Ryder Cup
    62. Golf Channel
    63. GC: 1997 ryder cup
    64. SI Vault 1997 — link no longer works (checked October 17, 2026): https://vault.si.com/vault/1997/08/25/you-da-man-lee-janzen-made-tom-kites-job-as-captain-a-little-easier-by-proving-with-his-play-at-winged-foot-that-he-belonged-on-the-ryder-cup-team
    65. Wikipedia: 1997 Ryder Cup
    66. WP Ryder Cup
    67. todays-golfer.com: the first champions dinner in 1952
    68. golfchannel.com: article brian hewitt glimpse inside masters champions dinner
    69. amp.cnn.com: golf masters champions dinner haggis
    70. mastersflags.com: masters invitations and dinner menus
    71. golf.com: vijay singh for your supper remembering the best masters champions din
    72. golftoday.co.uk: the masters champions dinner
    73. National Club Golfer
    74. The Golf News Net, points
    75. Wikipedia: List of Ryder Cup records