Nick Faldo Single Minded
Golf Monthly|January 2020
The six-time Major Champion has had to deal with his fair share of high-pressure moments. So what sets him apart from the rest?
Michael Weston
Nick Faldo Single Minded

Believe it or not, for someone who’s regarded as having one of the game’s strongest ever minds, Sir Nick Faldo once stood over a ball and felt his legs buckle with nerves. It was a Ryder Cup match. “Oh sxxt”, thought Europe’s greatest ever golfer as he stepped away to take a moment. Of course, he executed the shot to perfection, as he so often did in pressure moments throughout his trophy-laden career.

The 62-year-old doesn’t suffer the same sort of moments these days. In the commentary booth, he watches others go through the mill. He does, however, have a tendency to shout at the television when he doesn’t like what he sees, which is normally something strategy related.

Faldo’s game was not built on power. His greatest assets were consistency, distance control, and course management. It’s one of the reasons he gains so much pleasure from his course design projects, using his strategic mind to test modern pros and amateurs.

When we speak, Sir Nick is hosting the Grand Final of the Faldo Series in the UAE. It’s this great golfing brain his students have access to, so we’re keen to learn one or two mental secrets as well…

You had 18 straight pars in the final round of the ‘87 Open at Muirfield. Was that the finest strategic round you played?

No, it wasn’t. Trying to win an Open was a whole new experience. You’re churning inside. I was doing the best I could. I felt really nervous on the greens. I wasn’t striking the putts as well as I wanted. It was just hard work because it was such a strange day. This Scottish mist came in and it was like pea soup and the ball was going nowhere. You constantly had to adjust.

In your book, Life Swings, you talk about playing “strict par golf”, but were you actually just learning on the spot?

Denne historien er fra January 2020-utgaven av Golf Monthly.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra January 2020-utgaven av Golf Monthly.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA GOLF MONTHLYSe alt
Is it Time for the Presidents Cup to Be Scrapped? - The next instalment of the USA v Internationals match takes place in Canada at the end of September. But should the one-sided affair continue?
Golf Monthly

Is it Time for the Presidents Cup to Be Scrapped? - The next instalment of the USA v Internationals match takes place in Canada at the end of September. But should the one-sided affair continue?

The next instalment of the USA v Internationals match takes place in Canada at the end of September. But should the one-sided affair continue? Why would anyone even suggest such a drastic course of action? It may sound harsh, but since the inaugural event in 1994, the International team has managed just one victory and one tie while the American team has won 12 times, including nine straight from 2005. It is 26 years since the International team's solitary success in 1998 at Royal Melbourne under the captaincy of the late Peter Thomson.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2024
Surprise packages
Golf Monthly

Surprise packages

Jeremy Ellwood looks back on some of the more unusual golfing countries he has visited during his 20+ years writing for Golf Monthly

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2024
TAKE YOUR IRON GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Golf Monthly

TAKE YOUR IRON GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL

The key to good iron play is finding the right low point in your swing. Here's how to do it...

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024
How to organise the perfect golf day
Golf Monthly

How to organise the perfect golf day

Golf Monthly's guide to arranging and running a memorable and successful event

time-read
7 mins  |
September 2024
A LEGEND
Golf Monthly

A LEGEND

Michael Weston makes a pilgrimage to Pedrena in Spain to visit Seve's family home and talk about his life and legacy with his children

time-read
9 mins  |
September 2024
"THESE ARE THE MOMENTS I LIVE FOR"
Golf Monthly

"THESE ARE THE MOMENTS I LIVE FOR"

Alison Root sits down for a chat with Anna Nordqvist, the three-time Major Champion and first playing assistant captain in Solheim Cup history

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2024
SCALING NEW HEIGHTS
Golf Monthly

SCALING NEW HEIGHTS

The Solheim Cup seems to grow in significance and excitement with every staging, and this year's encounter in Virginia promises to be no exception...

time-read
8 mins  |
September 2024
STOKE PARK
Golf Monthly

STOKE PARK

I never expected to write about Stoke Park again after its closure in 2021, but it seems reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated.

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2024
PEAK AT THE OF HIS POWERS
Golf Monthly

PEAK AT THE OF HIS POWERS

Scottie Scheffler is a remarkable golfer who is well on his way to becoming an all-time great. Michael Weston analyses his accomplishments and explores his life to date...

time-read
8 mins  |
September 2024
TaylorMade P7CB and P770 irons from £179 per club
Golf Monthly

TaylorMade P7CB and P770 irons from £179 per club

Adding to an extremely strong 2024 product line-up, TaylorMade has launched its latest irons in the successful P-Series - the P7CB and the P770.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024