Show him what you’ve got
HOYLAKE, England – Nick Faldo wore a Superman logo on his cap Monday, appropriate for this British Open.
Everyone must feel like they’re on another planet at Royal Liverpool, a links course tucked along the Irish Sea that has not hosted professional golf in 25 years and hasn’t held the British Open since 1967.
And Faldo, a three-time champion and legendary figure in these parts, may need super powers to get through the week.
It’s bad enough that he has not played a tournament since the end of April. Faldo learned Monday morning he will be playing the first two rounds with defending champion Tiger Woods, whom Faldo has criticized from the broadcast booth the last two years.
Think the situation will be magnified?
“Slightly,” Faldo said, eyes visibly rolling behind his sunglasses on another bright, hot day. “Won’t be much fun, that.”
Woods and swing coach Hank Haney can be a little sensitive when it comes to Woods’ revamped swing, and Faldo took his crack two years ago at the Buick Invitational, when he was working for ABC Sports. From the 18th fairway with a one-shot lead, Woods missed a 2-iron so badly that it turned out good, landing on a tiny strip of grass right of the pond. He made birdie to win by two.
“A complete fan and miss,” Faldo said, describing Woods’ swing as too flat.
The last time anyone recalls them playing together was the first round of the inaugural Accenture Match Play Championship, and after Woods beat the aging Faldo to a pulp, he coolly said, “I’m not going to feel sorry for him. He’s had his chance to win tournaments.”
Faldo stood by his criticism from the booth, saying he was paid to offer his opinion.
“And I’m entitled to my opinion,” he said. “I’ll be right sometimes, and I’ll be wrong sometimes. As long as it’s entertaining and the check hits my bank account once a month, that’s fine by me.”
Asked if he and Woods had smoothed over any hard feelings, Faldo called it “water under the bridge, with a few trout.”
Besides, he has more worries than whether Woods has a vendetta.
The six-time major winner doesn’t want to look foolish no matter how little he plays, and he was methodical as ever while he walked the grounds of Royal Liverpool.
He worked out of pot bunkers, which have been refurbished by building sod lines on the walls. He pitched out of the yellow native grasses, which look daunting because of the shin-high length, but are more wispy than troublesome. And he tried to find the speed on the greens.
“I need a smidgen more than a week’s practice to take on Tiger,” he said.