NICK FALDO’S EUROPEAN TOUR HISTORY
• Turned professional in 1976, aged 19
• His first event was the 1976 French Open, where he tied for 38th place
• His first top ten finish came in his 11th event – a tie for tenth in the 1976 German Open
• Ended his first season in 1976 in 58th place in The European Tour Order of Merit
• Claimed the first of his 30 European Tour International Schedule titles at the 1977 Skol Lager Individual, beating Craig Defoy and Chris Witcher in a play-off
• Finished eighth in the 1977 European Tour Order of Merit in just his second year as a professional. Finished inside the top ten a total of 13 times between 1977 and 1994
• In 1978 won the first of his record four PGA Championship titles. He went on to claim victory in 1980, 1981 and 1989.
• In 1983 made European Tour history by becoming the first player to claim The European Tour Order of Merit with official earnings over £100,000. That year also saw him become the first player to win five European Tour events in the same season
• In 1987 won the first of his three Open Championship titles at Muirfield, with a final round of 18 straight pars, beating Paul Azinger and Rodger Davis by one shot.
• Became the first player in European Tour history to win on four consecutive appearances over the 1988 and 1989 seasons. The events were: 1988 Volvo Masters, 1989 PGA Championship, 1989 British Masters and 1989 Open de France
• Became the first Englishman to win the Masters Tournament in 1989, beating Scott Hoch in a play-off
• Made a successful defence of his Masters title in 1990, defeating Ray Floyd in a play-off, making him only the second player after Jack Nicklaus in 1965-66 to win back-to-back titles at Augusta National
• Later in 1990 won his second Open Championship at St Andrews
• In 1992 won The European Tour Order of Merit for the second time, winning four official events, including The Open Championship, with a then record of €991,931 (£708,522) in earnings
• Won the last of his six Major Championships at the 1996 Masters Tournament, overturning a six shot final round deficit to beat Greg Norman by five strokes
• Won 39 professional titles worldwide between 1977 and 1997
• Winning member of four Ryder Cup Teams , the Alfred Dunhill Cup in 1987 and the World Cup in 1998
RYDER CUP RECORDS HELD
• Most appearances – 11 (played in every Ryder Cup between 1977-1997)
• Made Ryder Cup debut in 1977 at Royal Lytham and St Annes, aged 20 years, 1 month and 28 days. At that time making him the youngest player in Ryder Cup history. Gained a 100% record, with three wins from his three matches
• Most overall matches played – 46
• Most overall matches won – 23
• Most overall points won – 25
• Most Singles matches won – 6
• Most Foursome matches played – 18
• Most Fourball matches played - 17
AWARDS
• Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year in 1977
• European Tour Golfer of the Year in 1989, 1990 and 1992
• BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1989
• Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1997
• Made an Honorary Member of The European Tour in 1987
