Final exam with Nick Faldo TV analyst/golfer

Golf Digest, Feb, 2007 by Brian Murphy

Golf Digest / You've moved from ABC to CBS and The Golf Channel this year. Can you name three anchors from "Golf Central" on The Golf Channel? (Answer: Vince Cellini, Brian Hammons, Kraig Kann, Rich Lerner, Iain Page, Mike Ritz, Steve Sands, Megan West.)

Nick Faldo / Hmm, let's see.... Wow! ... Rich Lerner is one. Uh, who else? Oh! Vince, right? And, don't forget [Golf Channel CEO] Dave Manougian. He's the most important one: He signs my checks.

You'll turn 50 on July 18, the week before a Champions Tour major championship. Name that major and site. (Answer: Senior British Open at Muirfield, where Faldo won two British Opens.)

NF / The Senior British Open at Muirfield. My 18-year-old son, Matthew, will be on the bag that week. I'll play the British Open at Carnoustie as a warm-up. Would you believe that's my next planned event?

You'll be in the 18th tower at Augusta this year, so you're probably aware that the vocabulary there is different from other events. What do CBS announcers call Masters fans? (A: Patrons.)

NF / The patrons. I'm sure I'll get that one wrong. I've heard about Jack Whitaker referring to fans as the "mob" and Gary McCord saying the people at Augusta "bikini-wax" the greens. I'll definitely not go there. There will be no bikini-waxing of the mob.

Who's the chairman now at Augusta National? (A: Billy Payne.)

NF / I haven't a clue. The best chairman was Hord [Hardin]. He forgot my name when I won in 1989. True story. He was on his third whiskey, and we asked him, "My son Matthew's just been born, but now that I've won the Masters, should I play Hilton Head or go home to my son?" He says, "I think Sandy should stay and play."

Your former ABC colleague Paul Azinger is a full-time player this year. When was the last time he won a tournament? (A: 2000 Sony Open in Hawaii.)

NF / He won a Sony, didn't he, in 2001? I remember it because of his return from cancer. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I have him on my bedroom wall to inspire me! [Laughs.]

Only three players have won more than your three green jackets. Name them. (A: Nicklaus, Palmer, Woods.)

NF / Big Jack, the King and the Future King: Tiger. I played with him in '97, and when he went out in 40, I thought, Fat chance, mate. You'll never be any good.

You and Zinger will be Ryder Cup captains in '08 at Valhalla in Louisville. Which U.S. Ryder Cupper played all five matches at the K Club but earned only a half-point? (Answer: Phil Mickelson.)

NF / That was Phil. That 18th hole [at Winged Foot] will haunt him for the rest of his life, I think. He picked up on every critical comment. I guess for so long it was, We love Phil. And then these characters don't like it when it turns the other way. It's funny, he and Tiger are quite delicate to criticism. They love the praise, though.

Which golf commentator played with Fred Couples at the University of Houston? (Answer: Jim Nantz.)

NF / That's my new partner, the legendary Mr. Nantz. Mr. Unflappable. It's my mission to flap the unflappable.

When your ex-girlfriend Brenna Cepelak attacked the windshield of your Porsche with a golf club and ...

NF / It wasn't the windshield; it was the whole car. But you're going to ask what club she used, aren't you?

No; we know it was a 9-iron.

NF / I'm not too sure about that, mate. I think it was a wedge.

OK, fine. Can you name the Oscar-winning actor who similarly damaged a car with a golf club? (Answer: Jack Nicholson.)

NF / Jack Nicholson? He plays, so I say, good on ya, Jack. The funny thing in my case was my ex was belting a car so advanced it was made of plastic. She'd hit it, and it would go, "Doing!" and bounce right back. That led to more of the rage, actually. Like, I can't do any damage! But she managed to.