NICK FALDO need never hit another ball to be remembered as one of Britain's greatest sportsmen. He now stands joint 10th in the list of major winners in the history of golf - and while Jack Nicklaus' incredible 18 victories may never be surpassed, moving further up the list is certainly within Faldo's capabilities.

One more major win would take him alongside Arnold Palmer, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen with seven; two more and he would join Tom Watson; three more and he would be ranked with Gary Player and Ben Hogan. Only Nicklaus and Walter Hagen (with 10) would then be ahead of him.

Faldo has achieved his three Masters and three British Opens in an era when competition has never been more fierce. Starting with his first Open victory in 1987, he was won six of the 35 majors played. The next best in that time is Nick Price with three.

1987 British Open, Muirfield: Faldo scores 18 successive pars in the final round and wins his first major title when American Paul Azinger bogeys the last.

1989 Masters, Augusta: Five behind Ben Crenshaw with a round to play, Faldo blasts a 65 to tie with Scott Hoch, who then misses a two-foot pull on the first extra hole. At the next Faldo holes a 25-foot birdie pull to succeed Sandy Lyle, as champion.

1990 Masters, Augusta: three behind Ray Floyd with around to go and four adrift after 12 holes, Faldo plays the closing stretch in three under, Floyd three-pulls the 17th and they go into another play off. At the second again (Augusta's 11th) Floyd hits into the water and Faldo, with a par four, joins Jack Nicklaus as the only men to make a successful defence.

1990 British Open, St Andrews: Faldo and Norman match each other shot for shot over the first two days, one scoring, 65-67 and the other 66-66. But when it comes to head-to-head Faldo destroys the Australian 67-76 and the final round is almost a lap of honour.

1992 British Open, Muirfield: Faldo looks an odds-on winner again with nine to play, but suddenly hits choppy water and American John Cook comes past him into the lead. Faldo tells himself he needs "the best four holes of your life" and, while Cook three-putts the 17th for par and bogeys the last, he birdies the 15th and 17th and pars the 18th to grab the title.

I 996 Masters, Augusta: Faldo's 69-67 opening still leaves him four adrift of Norman, whose opening 63 ties the course record. But Norman self-destructs with a closing 78. Faldo, meanwhile, fires a best-of-the-day 67 and wins, unbelievably, by five.