Golf Alarab · Player profile
Nick Faldo
The meticulous champion who mastered Augusta and The Open.
Nick Faldo became one of Europe’s defining golfers through exacting preparation, a rebuilt swing and sustained excellence in major championships. He won six majors—three Masters and three Open Championships—alongside 30 European Tour titles, nine PGA TOUR victories and a record-setting Ryder Cup career.
A swing rebuilt for the biggest stages
An English amateur who transformed his technique and became a major champion.
Born in Welwyn Garden City, England, on July 18, 1957, Faldo first became interested in golf after watching Jack Nicklaus play in the 1971 Masters. He turned professional in 1976 and rose quickly on the European Tour. In the early 1980s, he undertook a demanding rebuild of his swing with coach David Leadbetter, a process that reshaped his technique and laid the foundation for his most successful years.
Faldo won his first major at the 1987 Open Championship at Muirfield. His final round consisted of 18 consecutive pars, enough to beat Paul Azinger and Rodger Davis by one stroke. He then won the Masters in 1989 and 1990, becoming the first Englishman to claim the title and only the second player after Nicklaus to defend it successfully. In 1990 he also won The Open at St Andrews, before taking his third Open title at Muirfield in 1992.
The sixth and final major came at the 1996 Masters. Starting the final round six shots behind Greg Norman, Faldo produced a composed closing round while Norman struggled, eventually winning by five. Faldo’s six majors comprise the Open Championships of 1987, 1990 and 1992, and Masters titles in 1989, 1990 and 1996. He won 30 European Tour international schedule titles and was named European Tour Golfer of the Year in 1989, 1990 and 1992.
A defining comeback · 1996
Six strokes behind — five strokes ahead
Faldo began the final round of the 1996 Masters six shots behind Greg Norman and delivered one of the tournament’s most memorable Sunday performances. As Norman faltered, Faldo stayed patient and precise to win by five strokes and secure his sixth major championship.
Career timeline
The wins and turning points that defined Faldo’s career.
Turns professional
Begins his professional career after rising through English amateur golf.
First European Tour title
Wins the Skol Lager Individual and starts a run of success on the European circuit.
Order of Merit leader
Becomes the first player to exceed £100,000 in official European Tour earnings and wins five events in one season.
First Open Championship
Wins at Muirfield with 18 straight pars in the final round.
First Masters title
Becomes the first Englishman to win the Masters, beating Scott Hoch in a playoff.
Masters defence and St Andrews
Wins the Masters again, then captures The Open at St Andrews later that year.
Third Open title
Wins at Muirfield and claims the European Tour Order of Merit for a second time.
Sixth major
Overcomes a six-shot deficit to beat Greg Norman by five at the Masters.
Signature achievements
An outstanding record across major championships, the European Tour and the Ryder Cup.
Major championships
Six major titles
Three Masters (1989, 1990, 1996) and three Open Championships (1987, 1990, 1992).
European Tour
30 international schedule wins
One of the most successful European Tour careers of his era.
PGA TOUR
Nine victories
Faldo’s official PGA TOUR profile lists nine tour wins.
Ryder Cup
11 appearances
Played in every Ryder Cup from 1977 through 1997 and earned 25 points.
Awards
European Tour Golfer of the Year
Recognised in 1989, 1990 and 1992.
Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1997
Honoured by the World Golf Hall of Fame for his impact on the sport.
Precision, patience and legacy
The technical discipline and competitive control behind six major titles.
Faldo’s reputation was built on precise iron play, careful course management and the ability to repeat a trusted swing under pressure. The work with Leadbetter was unusually demanding, but it helped turn him into a champion who could contend on the firm links of The Open and the demanding approach-shot tests of Augusta National. His back-to-back Masters victories in 1989 and 1990 were proof of that control.
He also became a central figure in the European Ryder Cup generation that changed the event’s balance. Across 11 appearances, he established records for matches played and overall points at the time, and contributed to four winning European teams. After his playing peak, Faldo built a long broadcasting career and continued working in golf-course design, extending his influence beyond his six major championships.
