Sir Nick Faldo reveals one thing golf ‘needs more of’

Sir Nick Faldo believes there needs to be more matchplay golf on the schedules of the game’s main professional circuits.

Speaking on this week’s episode of The bunkered Podcast, the six-time major champion and former world No.1 lamented the loss of the events such as the World Match Play Championship.

That particular event was a fixture on the DP World Tour schedule for 50 years from 1964 but hasn’t been staged in the last decade.

The WGC Match Play, meantime, was dropped from the PGA Tour calendar this year after almost a quarter of a century.

According to matchplay specialist Faldo, that’s not a good thing.

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“We need more matchplay tournaments,” said the 67-year-old. “We really do. I know TV hates it because you could lose all your superstars on day one, but if we had half a dozen matchplay tournaments, it would even itself out, wouldn’t it?

“The good old World Match Play was such a great event. It really was. But then they got all panicky. You know, round-robin, you can lose and still win. It was ridiculous. Just get on with it.

“Get 64 guys and go wallop, wallop, wallop. They should be playing 36 holes every day, shouldn’t it? Kick them out the door and tell them to go play. I think that would work.”

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He added: “We used to say that the best day in golf, outside of The Masters, was the first day of the Match Play because 32 players went home. And nobody wants to go home. You need that in our sport again. None of this guaranteed bloody wage packet.

“Any sport is at its best when there’s a little bit [of jeopardy]. It doesn’t matter who you are. You don’t want to get beaten and sent home on day one. You’ll get guys trying their absolute you-know-what off.”

In a wide-ranging chat, Faldo also discussed the ongoing success and growth of his immensely popular junior initiative, the Faldo Series; its plans to roll out a new virtual programme early in 2025; Rory McIlroy’s Masters hopes; the late, great Seve Ballesteros; and what Christmas looks like in the Faldo household.

Listen to the interview in full here or search for ‘The bunkered Podcast’ wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are available every single week.

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