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Faldo looks set to lose
US PGA tour card
Nick Faldo seems certain to lose his US Tour membership for next year. Faldo,
who is reluctant to travel back to America following the September 11 terrorist
attacks, wants the tour to waive the rule that requires players to contest 15
tournaments to retain membership.
"If they're not coming this way, why should I go that way?" Faldo,
who has played 13 events, said referring to the refusal of many American players
to travel to Europe.
However, the US Tour appear unlikely to budge. "I'm fairly certain we're
going to stick to our rules," said Ana Leaird, the tour's media operations
director. "He has already been notified by us, in writing, that he will lose
his membership if he doesn't play in the next two weeks."
However, Faldo has not entered this week's Buick Challenge in Georgia, so the
only way he can retain membership is if the tour grant him an exception, which
appears unlikely, based on Leaird's comments.
If Faldo, the winner of six major championships, loses membership, he will
be restricted to 10 US Tour events next year - including the four majors. He will
be eligible to regain membership in 2003. Faldo, 44, was a member of the US Tour
for most of the Eighties before quitting to focus on playing in Europe. He rejoined
the US Tour in 1995 and his decision was vindicated when he won the Doral Open
that year.
The following year he recorded his third Masters victory by overcoming a six-stroke
deficit in the final round to beat Greg Norman.
Faldo was also victorious in the 1997 Nissan Open in Los Angeles but has struggled
since and has not made the top 140 on the money list in any of the past four seasons.
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