By John Jones

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The Ryder Cup is back for 2025, with the United States and Europe battling it out for one of golf’s most prestigious awards. Sir Nick Faldo is one man who knows exactly what it takes to lift the trophy, as one of the tournament’s most successful players ever. With a record 11 appearances for the European team, the Englishman won the competition four times and boasts one of the best points-scoring records in its history, with his score of 25 only exceeded by Sergio Garcia’s 28.5. Since hanging up his clubs, Faldo – who clinched three Open Championships and three Masters titles to cement his place as one of the greatest golfers of all time – has moved into the commentary box, covering major tournaments for broadcasters such as CBS and the BBC. As this year’s Ryder Cup kicks off at Bethpage Black in New York, the 68-year-old is back behind the microphone for Sky Sports , casting his eye over the action and offering his expert analysis. From his staggering net worth to his new life in the United States, here’s everything you need to know about Faldo today. As one of the most successful golfers in history, it’s hardly surprising that Faldo has amassed an incredible personal fortune throughout his playing career and into retirement. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his current fortune stands at around $60million (£45m), accumulated through his playing days, broadcasting work and lucrative sponsorship agreements. Beyond the millions earned from his 41 professional victories – including 30 wins on the European Tour – Faldo has collaborated with major brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Mastercard and whisky brand Glenmorangie over the years. More recently, he’s partnered with golf companies, including Golfpac Travel, Upper Deck Golf, and SQAIRZ, and he’s also acted as an ambassador for Husqvarna’s smart robotic lawn mower range. His other ventures include The Faldo Golf Institute, founded in 1997, and his golf course design firm, Faldo Design, which he established six years earlier. Through the company, he has helped oversee the design of more than 20 courses around the world . Despite hailing from Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, Faldo now lives on a farm in Montana, having wanted to move “away from the hustle and bustle”. Following his marriage to his fourth wife, Lindsay De Marco, in the Florida Keys in 2020, the six-time Major winner initially planned to build a new home on Ponte Vedra Beach in Jacksonville, before changing his mind and moving to ‘Faldo Farm’ just outside Bozeman. Speaking to Golf News, Faldo explained that the relocation came about after falling in love with the area on previous trips. “After Covid, we were about to build on Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida,” he said. “Then we thought we wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle. “We’d visited Montana a few times. I used to go up there and fish with Huey Lewis. I had a project that was almost on the Canadian border, Wilderness Club. We went there for a couple of summers with the dogs and loved it. We thought, ‘Why don’t we build ourselves a farm?’ That’s how it all started.” Discussing his new pace of life, Faldo continued: “It’s nice for me, on some days, to just go, ‘What have I got to do?’ My only priority might be to go and walk the dogs. That’s nice, because when I’m busy, I’m busy. “We’ve also got more involved with the community. I’m an ambassador for a great club called Crazy Mountain over Livingston way. I love it over that side. That’s the old Marlboro cigarette ranch. We’ve got our own – they call it town. We’ve got a genuine cowboy town, with the saloon, the jailhouse, the fire station, the brothel. “It’s very cool,” he added. “It’s genuine – over a 100-year-old wooden building. We’re amongst 3,000 acres of gorgeous mountains. You’ve got rivers, you’ve got golf. Everyone enjoys the good things in life, which is nice.” With Rory McIlroy taking centre stage for Team Europe at Bethpage Black this year, he does so with the full backing of Faldo, who has showered the Northern Irishman with praise over the years. Following McIlroy’s historic Masters triumph earlier this year – a victory that saw him become just the sixth golfer to complete a career Grand Slam – Faldo placed him amongst the sport’s legends during an interview with The Times, ranking him as the fifth greatest player ever. Comparing his own achievements with those of the 36-year-old, Faldo said: “It’s a whole different kettle of fish nowadays. He’s done way more than me. He’s won 29 times in America,”. “Of the all-time greats, I’d put him fifth. Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack [Nicklaus] and Tiger [Woods]. Rory is right there. No discredit to Gene Sarazen, but that was a completely different era. I’ve hardly seen any footage of him, but achieving the Grand Slam puts you in a different category.” On watching McIlroy finally claim the coveted green jacket at Augusta, Faldo admitted to becoming emotional, explaining: “I did get teary because I kind of know that walk off 18 and realising what he’d done, people don’t appreciate the workload that has gone into that physically, technically, mentally. You spend thousands of hours and hit millions of balls to reach your goal, and a heck of a goal it was.” With his Masters victory fuelling hope that it would lead to another run of success in Majors, there was disappointment when McIlroy failed to contend at the PGA Championship and the US Open. But Faldo jumped to his defence again, telling the Sky Sports Golf podcast that few in the sport’s history could understand the pressure and expectation he is now facing. “To be honest, we’ve been a little unfair on McIlroy,” he said. “Only Gary [Player], Jack [Nicklaus] and Tiger [Woods] can tell you what it feels like to have won the Grand Slam. “It’s something pretty monumental and we don’t know how you’re meant to react. We all thought – after going 11 years then finally doing it – he’s going to go forward, but maybe things felt weird for a while? Maybe it takes time and I’m not sure if that happens the next day.”