Faldo and Ballesteros elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame

St. Augustine, Florida, 18th September - Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros have been elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame. They were the first two players selected to the Hall of Fame through a 371-member International voting committee.

Ballesteros received 92 percent of the ballots and Faldo received 78 percent of the votes. A player needed to be named on 75 percent of the ballots to be elected. Ballesteros and Faldo both reached the minimum required age of 40 for eligibility earlier this year.

Tony Jacklin, who just missed selection last year when he was named on 73.75 percent of the ballots, was third in the voting this year with 69 percent.

"It is a great honor to be in the Hall of Fame with so many great players is exciting,'' said Ballesteros, who will captain the European Ryder Cup team next week and is the winner of more than 70 tournaments worldwide, including three British Opens and two Masters.

"Being elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame while I am still an active competitor is a wonderful honor,'' said Faldo, winner of more than 40 tournaments, including the British Open three times and The Masters three time. "When I got the call I was thrilled.''

Faldo, who was the world's top-rated player for 81 consecutive weeks in 1993-94, will play in a record 11th Ryder Cup next week and if he wins one point will be the all-time scoring leader in Ryder Cup play.

The World Golf Hall of Fame is a scheduled to open next May as the centerpiece of the World Golf Village near St. Augustine.