The strange world of Nick Faldo

Fergus is beginning to have serious doubts about the sanity of Europe's captain.

Fergus Bisset
By
published

There is a general feeling of disbelief and confusion on the European side of the media centre this morning. Just what is Faldo playing at? In what world can he think it’s a good idea to drop Westwood and Garcia? – a pairing that’s unbeaten in their last 9 Ryder Cup foursomes matches and managed to scrape a vital half yesterday morning.

Just what strange whim has led him to believe that Oliver Wilson should make his debut in foursomes alongside Henrik Stenson? I could see them as a possible fourball partnership but I have my doubts that they will gel in foursomes. And, they’re facing Mickelson and Kim – basically, they’ve got no chance.

Jimenez and McDowell – again, who knows how they’ll get on together? Maybe Faldo does, but I doubt it. They take on Mahan and Leonard, the star pairing for the US yesterday. If this European duo were a pair of cats hovering around the gates of hell, I’d seriously recommend they didn’t go inside.

Poulter and Rose are about to lead us off. I really can’t understand the amount of trust Faldo’s putting in Poulter. Well, I can actually. He’s attempting to justify his decision to pick the Englishman ahead of Darren Clarke. It seems to me Faldo is far more intent to prove himself a great captain than he is for his team to win. What he seems to have forgotten is that in order to be considered a great captain, your team really has to win.

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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