Faldo features at the Senior Open

Sir Nick Faldo, who received a Knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours on Saturday, will attempt to join another illustrious group when he is part of a world class field for The Senior Open Championship presented by MasterCard at Sunningdale Golf Club from July 23-26. The six-time Major Championship winner will look to add the prestigious title to his three Open Championships and three Masters Tournament crowns and join a roll call of past winners that includes Bob Charles, Gary Player, Christy O’Connor Jnr, Loren Roberts and Tom Watson. Sir Nick will take his place among a cast of international golfing icons in the strongest field to assemble in the 23 year history of the Championship, including Major Champions Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman, Greg Norman, Tom Watson and Ian Woosnam, as well as former European Ryder Cup Captains Mark James and Sam Torrance. Faldo, who will turn 52 five days before the start of the Championship, won The European Open at Sunningdale in 1992 and is still the holder of the course record on the Old Course, which he set 23 years ago with a round of 62 in 1986. “I’m very much looking forward to playing in The Senior Open Championship at Sunningdale this year,” he said. “It’s great to have the opportunity to play alongside so many familiar faces from my own era at a venue that, for many of us, holds some wonderful memories. “In fact, I think I’m right in saying that I hold the Old Course record at Sunningdale and, whilst I’ve not shot 62 in a wee while, I’ll be hoping to go at least one better this year… I assume I’m off the forward tees!” Arguably the greatest English golfer of all time and one of the world’s most successful players ever, Faldo remains the all-time leading points scorer in the history of The Ryder Cup and won 30 European Tour titles. In 1996 he launched the Faldo Series to encourage young golfers both male and female. Nick Dougherty and Oliver Fisher were both back to back winners of the Faldo Series and Rory McIlroy is the latest graduate to win on The European Tour International Schedule. After joining Sir Henry Cotton as the only other professional British golfer to receive a Knighthood, Sir Nick said: "I was delighted to hear the news that I will be receiving a knighthood and I am more than a little bit humbled to have been afforded this great honour. "It has come as a real surprise and the reaction from my children, family and friends has made this a very special moment for me. "Golf is in so many ways a very British pastime, and Britain the true home of the sport. In recent times, this nation has produced some of the finest golfers of any generation - players like Tony Jacklin, Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle - multiple Major-winning sportsmen that have represented this nation at the very highest level and not been found wanting.” Last year’s Senior Open Championship presented by MasterCard attracted record crowds to Royal Troon Golf Club and the world class field should ensure packed galleries at Sunningdale, which hosts the Championship for the first time.