Nick Faldo almost pulled out of British Open after injuring hand on … a deer antler
Nick Faldo almost didn’t make it to the first tee on Friday for his final British Open round at St. Andrews.
After opening with 83 on Day 1 of a largely ceremonial final appearance at the Home of Golf, Faldo suffered a freak injury. As he was taking off his shirt after the round, Faldo flung his hands back and impaled his middle finger on his right hand on the antler of a wall-mounted deer head. The wound re-opened on Friday morning, forcing Faldo to the hospital and leaving in doubt if he would even bother to play. His kids made him reconsider, with Faldo arriving at the course barely 45 minutes before his tee time.
“This morning my cut 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 explained, “and then the kids looked at me and said, ‘Dad, what are we doing?’ And I said, I don’t know. They said, ‘I think you should go.’ When your kids say you’re going, you’re going, aren’t you?”
It’s a good thing Faldo’s kids spoke up. The three-time Claret Jug winner turned back the clock in Round 2 with a 1-under 71, highlighted by an impressive birdie on the daunting Road Hole 17th to get under par for the day.
Then on the Home hole, Faldo teed off before making a final walk over the Swilcan Bridge donning the sweater he wore in the final round of his first Open victory in 1987 at Muirfield, posing for pictures, including with his son and caddie Matthew.
“That was the goal for the week,” Faldo said, “to get the photo on the Swilcan Bridge.”
The appreciative gallery showered Faldo with applause, including Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson, who were playing the parallel first hole as Faldo was ending his day.
The 57-year-old intends to play in two more Opens, through 2017, when his champion’s exemption ends.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
