Faldo: Rose still has star quality

Nick Faldo celebrated his 50th birthday by lighting a candle, metaphorically, for a man almost half his age.

On the eve of the 136th Open, Britain’s greatest golfer predicted 27-year-old Justin Rose – fifth in the Masters and 10th in the US Open this year – was the man with the ’X factor’ to become Europe’s next golfing superstar.

That will be true, though, only if Rose can handle the multitude of burdens and emotions which Faldo overcame so clinically to win six major championships.

Faldo said: “Players have to really feel the experience of leading – not just so much on the golf course because you’re a duck on a pond, quite happy. It’s going home, talking to the media, sleeping on a lead, first tee-off is 3.15pm at the weekend – all that time to think about it.

“That is the mental side you’ve got to experience to know how you react and what different emotional state it creates.

“Justin Rose has been doing that. He led Augusta a couple of years ago, blew up, but he learned very well from the experience and was in there until the 71st hole this time. The more they get into that experience zone the better for the future.

“Somewhere along the line the guys have to start looking at themselves and saying I’m now in a position to win a major. It’s me against these other guys - and it’s whoever’s got the X factor, the 15th club, to go and do that.

“Rosey recently has been the one playing very well and in contention.”

Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain, relaxing after a practice session, tried to play down earlier remarks this week that today’s golfers are too “chummy” and lack commitment.

They are not traits he could ever have been accused of having.

The statistics say it all about Faldo, who won three Open Championships and three US Masters in nine golden years from 1987 to 1996.

He lifted 30 European Tour titles and nine other tournaments, becoming the world number one for 81 weeks from July 1992 to January 1994.

He is also the record European Ryder Cup points scorer with 25 from 11 matches during a career which began as a small boy watching television coverage of Jack Nicklaus finishing second in the 1971 Masters.

His mother Joyce enrolled him on a course of six lessons at their local course in Welwyn Garden City, and the rest is history.

Now he has lucrative contracts as a commentator with American television channels CBS and the Golf Channel – and he admits juggling his TV commitments has not helped his golf.

“It’s given me a serious handicap,” said Faldo.

“The time factor is the major thing. I’m practising one per cent of what I used to. I’ve got my son Matthew on the bag, and we were on the putting green from eight to five yesterday – and that is what I used to do every day year after year. I like three-hour days better.

“Monday, I thought 'wow, what am I doing?’ I’ve got to walk myself through the process. There’s no automatic at the moment. I’ll see how I enjoy it. The bottom line is I want to enjoy it.”

The truth is, however, that these days Faldo is more likely to reminisce about his rivalries with Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and Greg Norman, plus his Ryder Cup battles, than he is to make the cut.

Yet he appears to have come to terms with being uncompetitive.

So much so that he earmarked St Andrews, the home of golf where the Open is held every five years, as his retirement venue.

Faldo joked: “I’m fine. It’s the front nine of my life. I hope I’ll make another 50, that’s my goal.

“We have a wonderful opportunity to say goodbye somewhere – the Swilcan Bridge looks like the spot. When I choose to do that I’m not sure. I’ll review this week and see how well I play.”