Sign up for our daily newsletter

Want latest news, reviews, analysis, deals, and events, and offers from our commercial partners? We’ve got you.

Sir Nick Faldo admits that he is relishing the opportunity to swap the commentary studio for the golf course when he plays in next month’s Scottish Open.

The six-time major winner will make a rare appearance inside the ropes at Royal Aberdeen before heading to Royal Liverpool for the Open Championship the following week.

It will be Faldo’s first start in a regular European Tour event since the BMW International Open in 2010 and, whilst he has forged a successful career as the lead analyst for CBS and the Golf Channel, the 56-year-old admits that his appetite for playing the game is still there.

“I’m enjoying the process of gearing up to play golf.” – Sir Nick Faldo

“I’m really looking forward to playing the Scottish Open,” said Faldo. “It’s going to be great to come over, dust off the cobwebs and play some golf.

“I’m enjoying the process of gearing up to play golf. I try to practice as much as I can but I still have injuries which curtail my workload.

“Trying to play in between my TV schedule is difficult, too, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club

One of the fiercest and most singled-minded competitors the game has ever seen, Faldo admits that he might not be the player he once was. Even so, he is insists he’s not just coming to Scotland to make up the numbers.

“I’m thinking that I can be competitive.” – Sir Nick Faldo.

“If you haven’t played competitive golf for a while, you can’t be competitive,” he admitted. “But my mind is good I’m thinking that I can be competitive, which is the No.1 battle. I’m playing partly out of curiosity and to see what I can do, but I’d like to go out there and play well.

“I’m excited to play a bit of links golf and to see what Royal Aberdeen is like. I’ve heard great things about it and I know Tom Watson has said that the front nine is arguably the best nine holes of golf anywhere in the world, so I’m very keen to see it for myself.”

Sir Nick Faldo accepted a sponsors’ invite to play in the Scottish Open this summer after admitting that he got it wrong with his preparation for last year’s Open Championship at Muirfield.

He shot rounds of 79 and 78 after ‘diving in at the deep end’ without getting his game ready for the test of the world’s oldest professional championship.

He laughed: “After last year, I remember thinking, ‘That was stupid, I should have gone and played the Scottish Open first’. So, this year, I’ve made that happen.”

Sir Nick Faldo in the Scottish Open

Untitled

The best finish Sir Nick Faldo has managed in the Scottish Open is second place. He was runner-up to Australian Wayne Riley at Carnoustie in 1995.

Joining Sir Nick Faldo at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open are Aberdonian Paul Lawrie, Rickie Fowler and defending champion Phil Mickelson. To book your tickets click here.

topics


author headshot

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

More Reads

Image Turnberry green

The bunkered Golf Course Guide - Scotland

Now, with bunkered, you can discover the golf courses Scotland has to offer. Trust us, you will not be disappointed.

Find Courses

Latest podcast

The PLAYERS Championship