Open Greats

Half of Sir Nick Faldo’s six major wins came at The Open, as the home favourite collected a hat-trick of Claret Jugs between 1987 and 1992.

All three came in Scotland, with two victories at Muirfield sandwiching a memorable success at St Andrews in 1990, and he came close to adding a fourth Open when he finished two strokes behind Greg Norman at Royal St George’s in 1993.

Faldo’s first appearance at golf’s original Championship came as an 18-year-old in 1976 and he recorded five top-10 finishes during the decade that followed before breaking his duck in 1987, as a two-year swing rebuild with the aid of David Leadbetter reaped rewards.

The Englishman was three shots behind Paul Azinger halfway through the final round but his remarkable consistency – Faldo parred every hole on day four – combined with a late wobble from the American saw Faldo earn the spoils the day after his 30th birthday.

His success at St Andrews three years later was more serene as he waltzed home by five shots with what was, at the time, the second-lowest score since The Open had been played over four rounds (270).

An emotional success at Muirfield followed in 1992 as Faldo played “the best four holes” of his life to overcome John Cook and cement his standing as the leading British player of his generation.

He went on to feature regularly until 2015, when he made his final Open appearance at St Andrews – 39 years after his Championship debut.

Sir Nick Faldo’s record at The Open

1976 | Royal Birkdale

Position: T28

Score: 294 (78, 71, 76, 69)

1977 | Turnberry

Position: T62

Score: 299 (71, 76, 74, 78)

1978 | St Andrews

Position: T7

Score: 285 (71, 72, 70, 72)

1979 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: T19

Score: 295 (74, 74, 78, 69)

1980 | Muirfield

Position: T12

Score: 284 (69, 74, 71, 70)

1981 | Royal St George’s

Position: T11

Score: 287 (77, 68, 69, 73)

1982 | Royal Troon

Position: T4

Score: 286 (73, 73, 71, 69)

1983 | Royal Birkdale

Position: T8

Score: 280 (68, 68, 71, 73)

1984 | St Andrews

Position: T6

Score: 282 (69, 68, 76, 69)

1985 | Royal St George’s

Position: T54

Score: 295 (73, 73, 75, 74)

1986 | Turnberry

Position: 5

Score: 287 (71, 70, 76, 70)

1987 | Muirfield

Position: Champion Golfer

Score: 279 (68, 69, 71, 71)

1988 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: 3

Score: 279 (71, 69, 68, 71)

1989 | Royal Troon

Position: T11

Score: 281 (71, 71, 70, 69)

1990 | St Andrews

Position: Champion Golfer

Score: 270 (67, 65, 67, 71)

1991 | Royal Birkdale

Position: T17

Score: 281 (68, 75, 70, 68)

1992 | Muirfield

Position: Champion Golfer

Score: 272 (66, 64, 69, 73)

1993 | Royal St George’s

Position: 2

Score: 269 (69, 63, 70, 67)

1994 | Turnberry

Position: T8

Score: 275 (75, 66, 70, 64)

1995 | St Andrews

Position: T40

Score: 291 (74, 67, 75, 75)

1996 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: 4

Score: 274 (68, 68, 68, 70)

1997 | Royal Troon

Position: T50

Score: 291 (71, 73, 75, 72)

1998 | Royal Birkdale

Position: T44

Score: 295 (72, 73, 75, 75)

1999 | Carnoustie

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 157 (78, 79)

2000 | St Andrews

Position: T41

Score: 287 (70, 71, 75, 71)

2001 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 146 (75, 71)

2002 | Muirfield

Position: T59

Score: 289 (73, 69, 76, 71)

2003 | Royal St George’s

Position: T8

Score: 287 (76, 74, 67, 70)

2004 | Royal Troon

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 153 (76, 77)

2005 | St Andrews

Position: T11

Score: 282 (74, 69, 70, 69)

2006 | Royal Liverpool

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 148 (77, 71)

2007 | Carnoustie

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 152 (79, 73)

2009 | Turnberry

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 151 (78, 73)

2010 | St Andrews

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 153 (72, 81)

2013 | Muirfield

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 157 (79, 78)

2014 | Royal Liverpool

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 153 (76, 77)

2015 | St Andrews

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 154 (83, 71)