Tag: Betfred British Masters

Nick Faldo picks up new job as host of DP World Tour’s Betfred British Masters at The Belfry

One of Faldo’s 30 DP World Tour wins came at the 1989 British Masters, and he won two Ryder Cups at The Belfry.

It didn’t take long for Sir Nick Faldo to find his next job in golf after his retirement from TV last year.

The six-time major champion announced Monday morning that he will be the new long-term host for the DP World Tour’s Betfred British Masters, held at The Belfry in England until 2026. The 2023 event is set for June 29-July 2.

“I’m very honored to have some very exciting news. Next year the Betfred British Masters will be hosted by yours truly, Sir Nick Faldo,” he said in a video released on Twitter. “It will be played at The Belfry, I’ve got lots of fun, happy memories there from the great Ryder Cup days. I will be hosting it for the next five years, so I’m sure we’re going to have a great field.”

One of Faldo’s 30 DP World Tour wins came at the 1989 British Masters (held at Woburn). While he never won an individual tournament at The Belfry, Faldo played in three Ryder Cups at the resort in Warwickshire, winning twice in 1985 and 1989 while posting a 2-4-1 record. He later compiled a 2-1-2 mark when the event returned to The Belfry in 1993, the last time the Europeans lost on home soil.

Danny Willett (2021-22), Lee Westwood (2017, 2020), Tommy Fleetwood (2019), Justin Rose (2018), Luke Donald (2016) and Ian Poulter (2015) have all previously served as tournament hosts. Recent British Masters champions at The Belfry include Thorbjorn Olesen in 2022 and Richard Bland, who in 2021 at 48 years old won his first DP World Tour event in his 478th career start.

Faldo ended his broadcast career last August after the final round of CBS’ coverage of the 2022 Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, which is where he made his PGA Tour debut in 1979. He was honored with a plaque behind the ninth green on the club’s Wall of Fame, where he joins the likes of Charlie Sifford and Arnold Palmer.

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Dramatic finish earns Thorbjorn Olesen his sixth DP World Tour title at the Betfred British Masters

“I just gave it everything,” said Olesen, who entered with a three-shot lead but won by just one.

After a pair of late bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes it seemed as if Thorbjorn Olesen’s chances at the Betfred British Masters were shot.

Then for the second consecutive day the Dane eagled the 17th and birdied the 18th holes at The Belfry in England to win his sixth DP World Tour title and first since the 2018 Italian Open.

Olesen began the day with a three-shot lead and won by just one over Sebastian Soderberg, who shot a 4-under 68 to finish solo second at 9 under. Connor Syme, Richie Ramsay and Justin Walters finished T-3 at 8 under.

“It was obviously a pretty tough day and hit a lot of shots to the left,” said Olesen, who dropped shots on Nos. 1, 6 and 9. “I was really struggling. I somehow just kept going, and yeah, what a finish. Incredible.

“Standing on 17, I’m thinking I can make birdie, birdie and maybe get into a playoff,” he explained. “But obviously when I got the chance on 17, I prefer to take that. Eighteen is a tough hole, so par is a good score obviously. I just gave it everything.”

Over his seven previous starts this year Olesen made the cut five times but earned just one top-20 finish. The win is his first since being suspended after he was charged with sexual assault, being drunk on an aircraft and assault, but the 32-year-old was cleared of all charges last December.

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