Nick Faldo

Golfer / TV Personality

England's Nick Faldo was one of the world's best golfers from the mid-1980s until the late 1990s, famous for his precise play on the links and aloof manner during competition. A talented athlete in several sports, Faldo turned to golf in the early 1970s. He won the English Amateur and British Youth Championships in 1975, turned pro in 1976 and was chosen in 1977 for his first of many Ryder Cup teams. During the late 1980s and early 1990s he reigned as one of Europe's top golfers. After winning the Masters in 1996 his career began to decline, and by the beginning of the 2000s Faldo was looking toward a new career as a TV analyst. As a pro golfer he won more than 40 titles, including six Majors, and in 1988 he was awarded an MBE for his services to the game of golf. Throughout his playing career he was known as a fierce competitor and lone wolf -- critics called him cold, mechanical and emotionless. Since taking on the job of on-air commentator, however, Faldo has emerged as a warm and funny TV personality. He appears on the Golf Channel and CBS Sports.