Links Magazine | The Best Of Golf | Paul Azinger vs. Nick Faldo

During the telecast of the British Open several years ago, former ABC commentator Paul Azinger started to analyze a putt when his broadcast partner, Nick Faldo, playfully cut him off: “It’s my hole, so buzz off.”

“You’re so competitive,” replied Azinger.
Actually, they both are, whether vying for a major championship, facing each other in a Ryder Cup singles match, trading one-liners in the TV tower behind the 18th green, or as they will be at this year’s Ryder Cup, leading their respective teams as opposing captains.

On the course, Faldo didn’t hit spectacular shots down the stretch, but instead brought an unwavering, singular focus in winning six major championships and compiling 25 points, the most in Ryder Cup history. Although Faldo’s most celebrated moment was his comeback Masters victory over Greg Norman in 1996, his defining win was his very first major, the 1987 British Open at Muirfield. In the final round, Faldo made 18 pars, the very definition of steady play under pressure.

Conversely, Azinger seemed to will great shots when needed, as he did in the 2002 Ryder Cup. With both himself and the American side on the brink of defeat, Azinger holed a greenside bunker shot at the Belfry’s 18th hole for a birdie to halve his match against Niclas Fasth. (The U.S. lost a match later.)

But the best example of Azinger’s competitiveness was his 1993 Ryder Cup singles match against Faldo, also at the Belfry. After Faldo made a hole-in-one on the 14th hole, Azinger swam upstream against momentum and Faldo’s raucous home crowd to birdie both the next hole and the 18th to halve his match.

While Azinger’s competitiveness burned white hot, it was unsustainable for long periods. In that 1987 Open, Faldo’s main rival was Azinger, who couldn’t summon his usual dramatics and instead made bogeys on the final two holes to lose by one shot.

And so the edge goes to Faldo, whose brand of competitiveness was similar to that of Jack Nicklaus. Like the Golden Bear, the stoic Faldo wore down the opposition over the years and let other players make the mistakes in pressure-filled situations.

In a game of managing bad shots, Faldo simply hit fewer of them.

Paul Azinger vs. Nick Faldo

Who is the tougher competitor?