Nick Faldo Once Recalled How Jack Nicklaus Inspired Him as a Young Golfer

Mar 4, 2026, 1:30 AM CUT

Nick Faldo still remembers the moment he first met Jack Nicklaus as a wide-eyed 15-year-old at The Open Championship. Sitting near the practice ground, Faldo watched golf’s biggest names from afar until an unexpected encounter changed everything.

“I’m 16 years old… this is my first Open,” Faldo recalled. “Jack comes over the fence right in front of me… I just stood there in shock.” The brief exchange lasted only seconds. “We didn’t shake hands. I said hi, you said hi, and off you went.”

Yet the moment stayed with Faldo. He joked that he even copied Nicklaus in the most unlikely way possible. “I can’t play like Jack yet, but I can sure whittle where he’s whittled,” Faldo said, describing how he tried to follow in Nicklaus’ footsteps in every sense.

More importantly, Faldo began mimicking the games of the legends he watched. “I mimicked your swing and Arnold… Gary’s… Tom Weiskopf’s,” he told Nicklaus, explaining how imitation shaped his early development.

Sir Nick Faldo, Host of the 2024 Betfred British Masters, is interviewed by the press. Betfred British Masters 2024, Pro-Am, Golf, The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, UK - 28 Aug 2024 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxGRExMLTxCYPxROUxBULxUAExKSAxONLY Copyright: xGreigxCowie/Shutterstockx 14672195d

Nicklaus agreed the approach was natural for young players. “That’s how kids learn… you learn from copying,” said the 18-time major champion, noting he himself learned from greats like Sam Snead and Ben Hogan.

For Faldo, seeing Nicklaus at 16 wasn't just a fan's moment; it became the foundation of his game.

From Watching Nicklaus to Becoming a Champion

Jack Nicklaus piled up 18 majors along with 73 wins on the PGA TOUR - numbers so high they became the target others chased.

Six major wins landed between 1987 and 1996, three at The Open, three at Augusta, plus nine more on the PGA TOUR. Nicklaus was all about power and confidence, while Faldo focused on control and precision.

Nicklaus was all about power and confidence, while Faldo focused on control and precision. Faldo's swing was very methodical; he never seemed to rush his shots, and this style helped him win six major championships.

Years before they competed for major championships, Faldo was just a teenager studying Nicklaus from the sidelines. He would study every move Nicklaus made, and later the player he once observed from a distance became both a competitor and a lasting influence on how he learned the game.

Written by

Dolly Bhamrick

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi