Nick Faldo says farewell to St Andrews

• Sir Nick Faldo makes an emotional farewell to St Andrews
• That was his final Open appearance at the Home of Golf
• Will officially end his Open career at Royal Birkdale in 2017

Sir Nick Faldo waved an emotional farewell to the galleries as he brought the curtain down on his final Open appearance at St Andrews.

The three-time Open champion, who lifted the Claret Jug at the Home of Golf in 1990, stood on the Swilcan Bridge for one last time, posing for pictures before receiving rapturous applause as he strode up the 18th.

Wearing the same Pringles jumper he wore for the first of his six major titles at Muirfield in 1987 on the last few holes, it inspired him to a birdie on the Road Hole, which had only seen three all week until that point, as he went on to complete a one-under-par 71 to bounce back from the 81 he shot on Thursday.

“I was just trying to say, thank you, St Andrews” – Sir Nick Faldo

“Well, 17 made it for me,” said an emotional Nick Faldo after his round. “That was special. I think I’ve only done it twice, last round ten years ago. That relaxed me at the last because I said I don’t care what I do up 18 because I’ve just made a three at 17. It was unbelievable.

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“I don’t know what I really said to myself . I was just trying to say, thank you, St Andrews. That’s why I looked to the gods, the St Andrews golfing gods at 17.

“I felt beaten up on Thursday but that was one of the great moments of my career. Making a three there and walking the walk, that won’t get any better.”

Faldo had originally planned to end his Open career at St Andrews this week, alongside five-time Claret Jug winner Tom Watson, but had a change of heart and announced instead that Royal Birkdale in 2017 would be his last, coinciding with the week of his 60th birthday.

Sir Nick Faldo :: An Open great

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