Countdown to the Masters 2011 – Day 32: Faldo beats Raymond Floyd in 1990

Welcome to Day 32 of the Today’s Golfer Countdown to The Masters 2011. Every day from February 17th until the big day when the season’s first Major tees off, April 7th, we will be bringing you some of our favourite memorable moments from The Masters since the tournament started in 1934.

Twelve months after winning his first Green Jacket at the second hole (11th) of a sudden death playoff, Nick Faldo won his second Green Jacket at the very same hole, at the second hole of another sudden-death playoff.

At the first playoff hole (10th) he found himself in trouble in a bunker; but then played a brilliant recovery to four feet, and sank the pressure-filled putt to stay alive.

“When I was over the ball in the bunker,” he said afterwards, “all I could think about was having to present Raymond with the Green Jacket at the ceremony afterwards. I thought maybe fate was going to get its own back on me this year.”

Then, on the next hole, Raymond Floyd hit a horrible approach which started left, and went further left, into the water. Game, set and match to the Englishman.

Things had been very different in regulation though. Indeed, after the 11th hole of the final round, Floyd found himself three shots clear of Faldo, who had made a bogey at the 10th.

Floyd stretched his lead to four, after making a birdie at the 12th; and then made the fatal mistake of believing he couldn’t lose. The American suddenly turned into defensive mode, making pars at the two par-5s, the 13th and 15th; despite the fact that on the 15th, he was only 215 yards from the green and could easily have made it in two.

At the 15th, Faldo was forced to go for the green in two, and went over the back. But, a delicate chip to five feet saw the gap closed to two; and then he holed a 25 footer for a birdie on the 16th. Floyd then three-putted the 17th, missing his second from 8 feet after misjudging the lightning pace of the green; and they were level.

Fanny Sunesson, who had replaced Andy Prodger on Faldo’s bag at the beginning of the season, told Faldo he was tied for the lead, when he reached the 18th green; and he then safely two-putted for his par. Coming up behind him, Floyd then needed to par the last, to take it into overtime. He bravely did this, though not before he had visited both a fairway and a greenside bunker.

Thirty minutes later, Faldo had won the playoff, and afterwards Floyd (with tears in his eyes) said: “This is the biggest disappointment of my career. You cannot believe how I feel. I’ve never felt anything like this before. Eleven was my only bath all week.”

Faldo was, not surprisingly, more upbeat: “This one’s a very emotional one for me,” he said. “It was so close. I’ve won three majors now; which sounds a lot better than two.”

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