Faldo savors one last ride at St. Andrews

“That might be it”, said the full-time CBS broadcaster and occasional ball striker.

“I wasn’t thinking about cuts or finishes or anything, I just tried to go out and put a number in my head and play”, Dunne said. He did his poses on the famous Swilcan Bridge for the last time on the 18th hole with his son, Matthew, who was caddying for him.

Despite remaining upbeat after coming off the course, Faldo admitted his horror round hadn’t been enjoyable – particularly as the weather started to turn late on.

“This morning my cut (on his right index finger) was open again so I went back to the hospital and had it glued again and I didn’t know what I wanted to do”, he added. I knew I was bringing this thing, bust out my ol’ Pringle, so I knew I was doing that. “They said, ‘I think you should go.’ When your kids say you’re going, you’re going, aren’t you?”

“That was the goal of the week”. The cheers will roll over him as he stands on the Swilcan Bridge waving goodbye.

“The leaders have got away from me now so I don’t think I have to worry about anything other than staying dry”.

Faldo regretted not being able to make the weekend but acknowledged his lack of recent action proved significant. “Real cashmere”, Faldo said. “How could I do that?”

“I was dying to make the cut for [my son] Matthew”. “That’s unbelievable”.

Nick Faldo shaved 12 strokes off his Thursday round to shoot a 71 on Friday, but it was perhaps even more impressive when he admitted an injury nearly kept him from teeing off. One of Faldo’s friends carried it until No. 16, when he gave it to Faldo’s son.

Nick Faldo, victor of six major championships, was always a master of the moment and yesterday was no different.

Phil Mickelson was moving up the leaderboard with three birdies through 10 holes to get within four shots of the lead. Louis Oosthuizen (70) and Jason Day (71) joined the large group at 7-under 137 that included Adam Scott and Zach Johnson, who finished Friday. For each, this last round here must have been overlain by memories all those that preceded it, stirring thoughts of old opponents, victories and defeats. At that moment, distant rain meant there was a rainbow over the R&A clubhouse at the other end of the 18th hole.

“You need an element of luck if you’re going to do well in this tournament”, Mickelson said after the first round. “I looked at the gods, the St Andrews golfing gods at 17. That won’t get any better”. Justin Rose, one of Faldo’s playing partners for the opening two rounds, admitted before the tournament that “it would be great to be part of one of those iconic photographs”, couldn’t wait to get up there and join the man he calls the “benchmark for all British golfers”.

He said: “A three at 17 – how could I do that?”