Faldo Returns

How will Sir Nick fare in his return to competitive play?

http://www.pgatour.com/champions/news/2017/06/22/weekly-update-american-family-insurance-championship.html

Not very well I suspect.

First rounds back to competitive golf rarely go well. But love him or hate him, most admit he's very talented. Always struck me as more of a grinder that needs a ton of practice, but perhaps he has been?

Who cares? I know that I replied to your OP so I must care. I really tried to provide a positive and constructive response and I failed miserably, after thinking about it for 10 seconds this is the best I could come up with. Even now 2 minutes later with some deep reflection I still don't care.

I like the fact that Woosie and Monty are playing though.

I'd like to see him play well.

All righty then.

Bad morning?

He was a great champion, I'd love to see him compete against Langer.

It sounds like just a one off...so to speak. I don't expect him to be in contention, but nice of him to play. Must like Stricker or be getting money from AFI or something??

I wonder if he'll keep up his newfound 'nice guy' routine on the course. Back in the day, he was pretty much the opposite.

I'm glad to see Faldo is still playing and still trying to get out there. That said I do not think he'll fair well. I always felt that Faldo was very much a mechanical player, the tactician type that needed to be practicing and honing his swing, rather than the natural type that can pick it up after weeks/months off and shoot a solid round. I also feel like he doesn't really have the fire anymore to play like he once used to, once the distance game passed him up he just kind of let go and doesn't seem to try/focus as hard as he once did. I don't wish him any ill will, just my thoughts.

I wonder if he'll keep up his newfound 'nice guy' routine on the course. Back in the day, he was pretty much the opposite.

Worked pretty well for Tiger.

First rounds back to competitive golf rarely go well. But love him or hate him, most admit he's very talented. Always struck me as more of a grinder that needs a ton of practice, but perhaps he has been?

Very talented, started at 14 and was pro 4 years later....just had a natural ability to strike the ball wonderfully. But you're right on one thing, he worked his socks off on the practice ground and 'grinder' is a very good word to describe his golf....but boy his long irons were just simply the best and straightest I've ever seen

Crap, I thought you meant the booth since we were all sick of whomever announced any event last weekend.

Look forward to watching him. Maybe his appearance fee is Stilton.

First rounds back to competitive golf rarely go well. But love him or hate him, most admit he's very talented. Always struck me as more of a grinder that needs a ton of practice, but perhaps he has been?

Very talented, started at 14 and was pro 4 years later....just had a natural ability to strike the ball wonderfully. But you're right on one thing, he worked his socks off on the practice ground and 'grinder' is a very good word to describe his golf....but boy his long irons were just simply the best and straightest I've ever seen

His lon irons were awesome. Many don't realize how big of a guy he is. Surprising he didn't have more power off the tee...Leadbetter didn't have that in his program so it was just straight and methodical.

Faldo played in the 2017 South African Open, he shot 70, 75 and missed the cut by 2.

7 under won the American Family last year; my WAG is Faldo will finish at 2 under.

He doesn't play much competitive golf anymore, so it may prove difficult. I wish him well though.

Ever since I watched him methodically chase down Ray Floyd I'm Augusta, I was a big fan. He was like the predator hunting prey that Sunday and it was enthralling to me.

Hope he plays well and has fun.

Loved playing that course back when I lived there. Might have to tune in.

I think if he's healthy he can still catch Jack.

I would look forward to watching

Nick, if he can make the cut, I have always enjoyed how he played.

It is always great to see a great player such as Faldo coming back to compete, even if it is just 1 event.

Good luck to him.

He should be playing single length irons.

I remember hearing a Feherty story about Faldo. Something to the effect, sorry Nick couldn't be here. He was attending the birth of his next wife. Hilarious!

Good luck Nick!

If he's not rocking an old Pringle sweater, I don't want to know!

Good luck to Nick and I hope he has an enjoyable experience.

I'm reminded of a Faldo tale - during a British Open he finished the round and handed a blank scorecard to his FC and basically said "sorry chap, forgot you were there". Might have been John Cook during the 18 par final round win. Classic.

Curtis Strange said of Faldo after their 18 hole playoff for the US Open..."it was like playing by myself, but slower".

There are only two people in golf I have ever "idolized". One was Ben Hogan ( who I never got to witness hitting a ball in person) who I was enthralled by his ability to make something out of nothing and seriously OWN it. My next door neighbor worked for the Hogan company as a Sales guy and got to know Mr. Hogan and has told me countless stories of how he carried himself and how methodical he was. My Neighbor played Golf at Texas with Phil Blackmar, Kite, Crenshaw and a few other golfers so he could hold his own and even he was in awe. One of the guys at Bluejack who handles new memberships and lot sales got into the industry as an assistant pro at Shady Oaks and had the opportunity to shag balls for him and man I will stop playing or hitting balls when he walks up and tells me Hogan stories...the other was Nick Faldo, His complete and utter devotion to becoming the best in the world was something you only read about in fiction novels. His ability to hit 3 irons off the tightest of lies and make them land like a butterfly with sore feet was almost unbelievable. The man defined tactician and defined laser focus. I had the chance to meet Faldo and as someone said before he really is a pretty big guy. not unfit type of big guy but big as in super fit broad shouldered athlete. I remember reading about his practice routines when he was at the pinnacle of his career and it just made me tired. he would hit balls for 5 hours in the morning working on something specific then would eat a light lunch and swim laps for an hour then go play 18 holes then hit balls till dinner time. He was a surgeon, the clubs his scalpel and the course his patient. I hope he plays well and I can't wait to see that fluid swing with a long iron

He had a strange first round in the 2015 Open Championship: 83 (+11 I think??)

He followed it up with a 71 though. He can still play. If he can shake off the nerves I think he will do well.

In my previous life, I worked for an oem that sponsored Faldo, and I met him in the mid 90s. All I had ever seen was the golf course robot, so I was shocked to learn he had a personality (a good one) off the course.

First rounds back to competitive golf rarely go well. But love him or hate him, most admit he's very talented. Always struck me as more of a grinder that needs a ton of practice, but perhaps he has been?

Very talented, started at 14 and was pro 4 years later....just had a natural ability to strike the ball wonderfully. But you're right on one thing, he worked his socks off on the practice ground and 'grinder' is a very good word to describe his golf....but boy his long irons were just simply the best and straightest I've ever seen

 

His lon irons were awesome. Many don't realize how big of a guy he is. Surprising he didn't have more power off the tee...Leadbetter didn't have that in his program so it was just straight and methodical.

He did when he was young, had a long willowy swing. But in majors when the pressure was in he felt it broke down. Hence swing rebuild and leadbetter.... To do that with an already successful swing takes some guts, but he wanted to do it to hit the ball lower and straighter and the rest is history.

I think he would have won a major or 2 with his old swing but not 6, and well never know. But seve and faldo are the reason I play golf, just watching them at the Masters and open got me hooked in the late 80s