Faldo

[AuburnWarrior]

Faldo was/is my golfing hero. I remember watching his first masters win and from then on I followed him. I even got a scrap book going of him (which I still have somewhere).
Why did I like him? He was the best golfer around and I'm always drawn towards elusive/arrogant sporting superstars.
I've read his autobiography which isn't the best but in it he does address his personality and states that because he was an only child he got used to being on his own. He goes on to say that this 'loneliness' became an aid when he was spending hours perfecting his swing.
Once again, what do people pay money for? To see Faldo the golfer or Faldo the entertainer? Back then it was for his golf, now it's the entertainer to a certain degree as he needs to engage the viewer with his analysis/knowledge/expertise.

 

[brendy]

I saw him as a good golfer partnered with a caddy with a hilarious name (I was in my teens), yes he was still just too plain. I loved the fake trips though, fantastic!

 

[Bigfoot]

You don't have that much success without ability or drive but that generally means you lack in some other area - personality in Faldos case. He does try sometimes too hard for acceptance hence the poor jokes. He was a great golfer - no doubt about that.

 

[kid2]

I was a bit young to remember Faldo and Seve's generation playing as in the early 80's i was only 7 or 8.I admire them both from what little footage i have seen of them and i have the greatest respect for them the way they were able to play the game back then no such thing as hitting the ball 15yrds past the pin and have it reverse back to the hole....
They looked pure class......
Seve comes across as a player that could hit the ball from litterally anywhere....
As for Nick i kind of enjoy his presenting on the USPGA he's seems witty without being arrogant if that sounds right.

 

[RGDave]

For me he was always an inspiration and a wonderful player. He had the dedication and single mindedness.... to remodel his swing at a time when he was already winning many tournaments took an awful lot of guts!! I think both of the following statements apply-
*A misunderstood genius.
*A nice guy who just didn't know how to relate to people

I'm going with this post....

Everyone is different. Consider the personality of Ronnie O'Sullivan or Steve Davis.....

I am such a fan of N.F. I think he could safely be described as a type of introvert.....which I wouldn't hold against him.

 

[drawboy]

Sir Nick Faldo, shaped my youth as a golfer, you either wanted to play like Nick or Seve, I think for anyone who remembers the way he changed his swing (when golfers played with what they had)it was amazing, he worked and worked then worked some more on his swing until it was a world beater, then he went out and beat the world. Never ever underestimate the work that guy put into his game to get where he got. He deserved everything he won. I think the guy was a genius.

 

[Herbie]

In many ways Faldo was and is no different from other top pro's as regards personality, at his peak he was without question the best golfer in the world and held that status for quite a while. His ability and achievements in the game will be bettered by only a few golfers, that is simple fact.

The only thing that has let him down from time to time has been his attitude and comments often misunderstood, and a charactor that doesn't seem to be one that is favoured by many.

Because of this he has and will always receive unfair reviews or critique alongside the fair ones. Most blatant was the mostly unfair abuse he got over his RC captaincy.

Maybe he is not the most loveable golfer, but he certainly was one of the great players of our time.

 

[Pants]

Reading through the posts on this thread, it crossed my mind that (omitting references to his Ryder Cup captaincy) if you substituted the letters Woods for Faldo, most of the comments would to some extent be relevant.

Sir Nick ruled OK

 

[HogansAlley]

Still my favourite player of all time - I'm just the right generation. That swing was perfect, I loved the fact he shaped every shot to suit.

However, to the outside observer he appears to have personality issues and the mother of all egos. His speech at the Ryder Cup opening ceremony was one of the most embarrassing, teeth-pullingly awful things I've ever watched.

As a player, I still love him though.

 

[Snelly]

I am in a minority again in terms of my view.

Much respect for the man as a golfer with a great record and phenomenal drive. One only has to think of the swing remodelling phase to see what a thirst he had for success through hard work.

That said, he is just not my kind of hero. I find him toe-curlingly embarrassing to watch, utterly socially retarded, self obsessed, unfunny and fundamentally flawed in character. Definitely not a gentleman. I thought he had thawed over the years somewhat but his RC captaincy changed that view.

Also, he the golfer I don't want to be in that he hit fairways and greens with a robotic monotony. Great for scoring well and some people love that. I am of a different type though and always wanted to be like Seve; swashbuckling, high risk golf. Lashing a drive over a dangerous dog leg, duck hooking a 3 iron out of the trees to the edge of the green then chipping in for a birdie!

Each to their own of course but for me, Faldo was not a man I either admired or aspired to emulate. I also have anecdotal stories from pro-ams which affect my view of him. Just my opinion of course and were I to spend some time with him (like Homer had the fortune to), then doubtless that would change. I can only go from what friends say and his public persona to form my view.

 

[funkyfred]

For me he is one of the greatest of his (and mine) generation. Yes he has/had his flaws but you can not take away his brilliance.

One thing from me that no one else has bought up, is what he has put BACK into the game with his coaching schools and institute. Doesn't he have some tounament for the youngsters from all over Europe play in?

 

[madandra]

I haven't read through all the posts in this thread but I think if Faldo was born an American he would have been a box office smash but due to the fact that the British want personality and not achievement his personality was always going to fail on these shores.

 

[didsbury_duffer]

Magician on the course in his heyday, muppet more recently with US commentary and Ryder Cup. He was always going to get the RC captaincy because of his playing record. Thankfully that is now out of the way, and he won't be getting it again. The truly dedicated sportsmen that are not blessed with 100% God-given talent and who have to work at their game are, as a general rule (not everybody), offhand, rude, ignorant, arrogant - Geoff Boycott being another good example. I guess the tv media guys just didn't have the balls to tell Faldo that he doesn't have what it takes.

 

[AMcC]

Thought he was amazing to have remodelled his swing with such single minded dedication, certainly he was a role model early in my golfing days.

Met him for the first time at Turnberry last year and he took time to sign my daughters flag, will forgive him for spelling her name wrong though. He came across very well that day.

 

[Faldo_Fan]

I've read all the previous posts.....

Firstly i admit to being biased, he was just coming out of his slump due to remodelling his swing as i took the game up.
I thought he was the purist striker of a golf ball i've ever seen, i think the closest to that in the modern game is Soren Hanson and he's on record as saying he's tried to model his swing and tempo on Faldo's.

I do agree that he doesn't come across well on TV, in his current role as a US Golf channel commentator i think he's trying too hard.....and it shows!!!

What i would say is that i've been lucky enough to meet the great man about 12-15 times and every time without fail he's been charming, witty and believe it or not a little shy!!!! In private he is a totally different person, during his golfing career he didn't benefit from the media training that all the current pro's and top amatuers now receive. That may or may not have helped him?

Also don't forget when he set out his aim was to become the best golfer in the world......not the most loved!!!!

To whoever posted that he was boring to watch as he just hit fairways and greens and wasn't as exciting as Seve (who i also think was brilliant) if you offered me fairways and greens all the time, i'd bite your hand off......up to the shoulder!!!