Britain's most successful modern golfer Nick Faldo has been awarded a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
Golf legend given knighthood in Queen's Birthday Honours
Britain's most successful modern golfer Nick Faldo has been awarded a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
'Sir Nick' can add the award to his six major championship titles and over 40 professional tournament victories in his superb golfing career.
The 51-year-old won three Open Championships and three Masters crowns and also became the youngest player to qualify for the Ryder Cup at the age of 20.
A former world number one for over 90 weeks, Faldo was awarded an MBE in 1998 but has now been upgraded to a knighthood in the latest honours list.
The father of four, who grew up in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, and now lives near Windsor, Berkshire, was also captain of Europe's Ryder Cup team that lost to the USA last year.
Faldo admitted he had been left "humbled" by the award, stating: "I was delighted to hear the news that I will be receiving a knighthood and am more than a little bit humbled to have been afforded this great honour.
"It has come as a real surprise and the reaction from my children, family and friends has made this a very special moment for me.
"Golf is in so many ways a very British pastime, and Britain the true home of the sport. In recent times, this nation has produced some of the finest golfers of any generation - players like Tony Jacklin, Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle - multiple Major-winning sportsmen that have represented this nation at the very highest level and not been found wanting.
"I believe I join Sir Henry Cotton as the only other professional British golfer to receive a knighthood so to stand alongside such esteemed company is incredible."
Faldo is renowned for his single-minded dedication to his game, although his style of captaincy during the Ryder Cup has come in for some criticism.
