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Let down of a legend
Faldo still a legend - but won't be captain again
Posted: 19th November 2008 13:22
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My views on Nick Faldo's Ryder Cup captaincy have not changed; in my opinion he made a really poor job of it from start to finish.
Things have come to light since September that confirmed my view that he will not go down in history as a good Ryder Cup captain. I've heard in dispatches that he has intimated that he wouldn't mind having another go at it, but personally I would struggle to find a positive reason why would be asked to do the job again - especially when there are many other worthy candidates.
However, his personal legacy remains that of an awesome individual performer. His record in the game of golf affords him the status of legend and that will never change.
As a member of the Ryder Cup team he was always incredibly valuable - as shown by the fact he has the greatest points record in the history of the competition - and like all great champions he relished the opportunity of head-to-head matchplay in foursomes, fourball and singles against the best players in the world.
He was always incredibly proud to play for Great Britain and Ireland at the outset of his career, and later for Europe. I guess that makes it even more of a shame that he didn't make a better fist of the captaincy. His efforts at Valhalla will go down in history, but his legacy to golf will always be one of a great player. His record will forever be carried with him.
I'm sure he remains a very competent player now and it will be interesting to see how he performs at the Hong Kong Open this week. A bit like Greg Norman, he now bases his playing schedule around business commitments as he's not actively playing on the Seniors Tour due to his commentary commitments in the US.
Loner
How will the other players respond to him this week? Well, he spent his entire career being a little bit of a loner. He was never close to the players of his era because he went about the job in his own way - as an individual. He was very much focused on his career and his own achievements and subsequently he often didn't endear himself to his fellow professionals.
I'm sure that will still be case, but at the same time the younger generation will always look up to him because of his record.
I imagine he will be in Hong Kong for financial and business reasons as well as sporting reasons this week. I don't really buy into the idea that great players should stay in the background and leave their glory days behind them.
Sponsors have invitations to their tournaments which they can distribute to whoever they want and if somebody wants Nick to play in Hong Kong then why shouldn't he oblige?
In terms of his standing in the world of golf, Nick Faldo is certainly not a weak invitation.
Charge
I'm looking forward to seeing one of Nick's Ryder Cup charges - and the defending Hong Kong Open champion - Miguel Angel Jimenez in action this week.
In all the years I've known him since I started out on the European Tour he never changed; he's exactly the same chap today as he was 24 years ago.
The other thing I love about him is that you can have a conversation with him for 20 minutes and barely understand a word he says - especially when he's speaking in English!
In all seriousness though, I've always admired the way he's not one of those guys who spends hours and hours in the gym and he lives life to the full. When he's not being seen in his Ferrari 550, he's can be seen with a big glass of port in his hand. That's the way he is and he has always been one of the great characters of the European Tour.
That being said, he's a consummate professional and he does everything so well. The swing doesn't break down under pressure, the putting is still great, the short game is always wonderful to watch and he's a wonderful golfer for spectators. You don't win 15 European Tour tournaments without being a great player.
The Hong Kong Open is clearly one of his favourite events. He has averaged 67.56 in his last 16 rounds there and that goes to show how well he plays this course and how much he loves this tournament. He has won there twice and I wouldn't be surprised if he made it a hat-trick this weekend.
It's wonderful to see him playing and competing at the very top and I wouldn't bet against seeing him raising a glass of port to toast yet another victory on Sunday night.
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Comments
Martin P says...
Faldo as captain? he may have been first on the list due to his ryder cup and personal achievements, but was it the correct decision by the committee to elect him? Critizise him? i don´t think so.we would all love the chance to do it and none of us would have done made any positive impact!!! Maybe it´s a lesson learnt. Is a perfect playing career make you an automatik candidatefor the position? We have already forgotten this years result and are looking forward to 2010. Who will be Captain?
Posted 14:44 22nd November 2008
Craig Cochrane says...
Nick Faldo the greatest British player of all time...... YES. As a Ryder cup captain certainly not...Sorry. Who could forget Faldo¿s battles with the American through the years the Zinger at Muirfield, Cook at Birkdale, Stewart at St Andrews and Floyd at Augusta. As a young avid golfer I loved his steely style the way he grinded people down and how it always seemed to be arrogant Americans that crumbled in this wake. But over the years I started to fall from Faldo¿s spell and idolised the likes of Payne Stewart because of his personality. The manner in which he held off the crowds at the Ryder cup to protect Monty his flamboyant dress sense and more importantly playing golf with a smile for me is what it¿s all about. Faldo was unfortunate to face a good American team with a European team not firing on all cylinders .......But from the word go nothing seemed to be right. His opening speech worst IV heard in all my time watching the event in fact it was that bad I was sinking into the couch with ever new sentence; Woosnam was not the best but Faldo ¿American commentator¿ should capture us I would have thought. The matches we were not at the race I have to say Faldo¿s fault? Who can say only the players have an insight into his team talks, encouragement and advice. In defeat I thought he could have said more praised the Americans a little more after all we weren¿t to shy in blaming America for wrecking the Ryder Cup spirit and this competition is for me the greatest in sport. In reflection as I said at the start I hated those arrogant Americans especially the Zinger I loved Faldo¿s triumph at Muirfield. But in this instance Azinger won on all counts Hands down Before During and After and well done to him and his team. Faldo to try again No. I couldn¿t bear those corny jokes and family speeches...................... GET WELL SEVE.......................
Posted 09:30 22nd November 2008
Rick Smith says...
I don't get these uninformed comments; Nick's pick of his protege Ian Poulter which was the ONLY questionable decision he made actually turned out well. Had Padraig and Sergio performed with Ian's heart we would have been hailing Nick as a genius. The only reason the pick of Poulter was at all controversial was because Darren Clarke who had much less of a record than Nick did was nevertheless lionized as "one of the boys" in a way Nick was not; witness how also ran Mark James got away with dissing Nick when Nick was in Darren's shoes. I give Darren credit for playing and winning when he thought it was "all on the line" ... truthfully it was too little too late when compared to Poulter's runner up in a major and World Ranking as compared to Darren's. As far as the previous poster referring to Nick's senior record that is rather uninformed too; I believe Nick played in exactly one Senior event; the Sr. British Open and Nick after leading in the early rounds faded a bit and finished 14th; hardly an embarrassment for someone who spends most of his time commentating and attending to business interests. As far as the game passing him by; Nick could definitely exploit his strength and fitness more and give up some of his precision to gain more power; OTOH the equipment gods have made the game too easy ... I'd place Nick in the worlds top 100 if they forced everyone to play with the old equipment and brought back hand-eye coordination to the game.
Posted 05:59 21st November 2008
Brian Seheult says...
I feel strongly that the criticism heaped on Nick Faldo's captaincy is totally unjust and I would like to hear from anybody who agrees with me. The fact is that they (the United States team) outplayed us,especially on the last day, and our "Star" players basically under performed. Westwood,Garcia and Harrington all lost on the last day and their performances were not significantly better on days 1 and 2. We do not blame these players for the loss of the Ryder but they were playing .....NOT FALDO. I certainly don't blame the players; some times you play badly and win and other times you play well and loose. The players aren't Robots. Why doesn't everybody accept we just got beat by a better team!
Posted 17:29 20th November 2008
Jim Proctor says...
Nick had something in him that the other competitors in Europe didnt have. A single minded, dogged determination to win. His game was always solid, never exceptional. He was fantastic under pressure but he always struggled with putting. Who remembers Fanny standing behind him to 'line him up' on his putts? 95% of the other lads, Peter Baker, Mark Roe, Mark James, Ian Woosnam and Sam etc would be in the bars at night during European tournaments, enjoying themselves, Nick would hit the practice range and eat alone. Robert Allenby was the same as Nick when he was on the Euro tour. Faldo didn't want to be one of the lads. Just to win tournaments and he went about it to the best of his ability. His majors total and Ryder cup points total are fantastic acheivements and they will never be forgotten but as a Ryder cup captain - he probably was'nt a suitable choice but he did it out of sheer pride and determination to represent and win for his country and for that he should be commended. I met Nick when I was a child. He came to my golf club and gave a clinic. He felt more comfortable in an organised situation and was fantastic on the day. Autographs, photos, advice, conversation with the kids and parents. The man was great. But when approached as he was approaching the 1st hole during the tournament - I can see him being 'in the zone' that made him successful and not wanting to shake hands and give high 5's. Lets give Nick a break. He was a tremendous sportsmen and proudly represented our country with great success. He took on an unpaid job in captaining us for the Ryder cup and has been vilified for his mistakes made but he would have done everything in his power to help our lads win and for that we should remember him as a truly Great Brit that the kids of the day could really look up to.
Posted 13:23 20th November 2008
Richard Kliskey says...
Guys, don't forget that for the last few outings in Ryder cup the Yanks have had a much 'stronger team on paper' and look what happened there.. The Ryder Cup is very much the underdogs team event.. each outing blindly shows which group of players has pulled together the best and is out there playing for each other.. and sadly that was the Americans this time out..
Posted 13:12 20th November 2008
Julia Roberts says...
Nick Faldo made some fundamantal errors in the management of the European team in Kentucky. His self belief as a player was not transmitted to the players who appeared to be on the back foot from when the first ball was struck. He doesn't appear to be a 'hand on' captain who could offer a shoulder to cry when the going gets tough. I personally couln't believe the opening speeches on Wednesday evening. Was it the Nick Faldo show? Great players, poor leader. Glad the americans won, they deserved it, 3 of our top players weren't on their games, maybe something to do with the 'schedules' ! Credit where credits due to the Amercians and Azinger has grown in popularity this side of the pond after his fantastic captaincy. Next European Captain - Langer or Woosnam? I admire Migueal Jiminez greatly but he wasn't on his game at the Ryder Cup. A great professional who always plays the game with a smile on his face. I don't think there's a better fairway wood striker of the ball on the tour. fantastic.
Posted 11:27 20th November 2008
Terence Sheppard says...
Nick was a great sport's person, a golfer we all looked up to, but as an example of approachability he was sadly lacking. I remember too well the occasion when Fanny and he were walking from the Cascades Hotel at Sun City, to the first tee and we offered our support. With no other people around they uttered NO words and just brushed passed us. It was not that we were intruding on his game, it just seemed that as spectators we did we held no accountability, he was totally focused on what lay ahead. The tournament the year before Greg Norman just asked that when he was finished practicing after his round, he would come and sign autographs. Some players will lead by example, others will be individuals and have little influence on fellow competitors and spectators.
Posted 19:42 19th November 2008
Andrew Norrby says...
Well said Mark. Nick's record is unsurpassed in modern day golf and he rightly holds the status of legend. His contribution to Ryder Cups over the years is also well noted. Like you, however, I feel that Nick got it all wrong this year at Valhalla. I think the Ryder Cup committee would be wrong to persist with him as captain, there are other worthy candidates as you said, but also, I feel Nick would be doing it just for the notch on his belt. Renowned as a loner, Nick seemed to think the Ryder Cup of 2008 was the Nick & Zinger show. I honestly feel it only dawned on him that he was in a match at the end of the first day's play. By then it was too late. The lack of support (support he felt he didn't need) meant the brilliant Oliver Wilson played one match before Sunday. Nick will tell you that it was awfully close on Sunday and but for a putt or two it could have been all different, but the truth is that a team that on paper should have pulverised the yanks got handed their backsides! I think another interesting observation about Nick is how badly he has adapted to the modern game. Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam are showing that, for them, life begins at 50. As far as Nick is concerned, his best days were over more than a decade ago and his senior outings have been less than impressive. Nick used to boast that he was more accurate with a 4 iron than most guys were with their 7 iron. The problem for him now is he is still hitting 4 iron while the guys he is competing with are hitting wedge. Your inside info on 'Jimmy-Nez' is interesting and made me feel confident about my each way bet this week. I think at 50, Miguel will be getting better and better.
Posted 15:33 19th November 2008
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