Tour News (posted 22nd November 1998)

Faldo leads England to first World Cup victory

Auckland, New Zealand, - Nick Faldo was as good as his word on Sunday when he led England to its first World Cup of Golf team title at the 44th attempt.

Faldo had promised to make amends for England never having won the title since the competition started in 1954 and it was his strength which took him and young compatriot David Carter to a two-stroke win at Gulf Harbour.

It was Carter who made sure of victory with a closing hole birdie, though, as he posted a four-under-par 68 and Faldo a 69 to take them to eight-under-par 568.

That was two shots better than Italians Costantino Rocca and Massimo Florioli and three ahead of the United States, Scotland and the third round leaders Argentina, with the defending champions Ireland a further stroke back.

England began the final round a stroke behind Argentina following Carter's collapse on the back nine the previous day in gale-force winds.

Both Englishmen found early birdies but could not force home their advantage until the back nine when the pair finally overtook the Argentinians Angel Cabrera and Ricardo Gonzalez, whose three bogeys late on cost them their chance.

Italy set the target of six-under with England a stroke better than that with two holes to go, crucially making vital pars on the tough 16th to keep their advantage.

At the final hole, however, Faldo ran his approach through the green and could only pitch up to five feet. Carter then knew his 20ft birdie chance might save them a playoff with Italy. He holed out to ensure victory and take off Faldo's pressure.

"That was a big break," said Faldo, "I would not have liked to have needed to hole my putt for the outright win. I told David to hole it and make it easy on me. It gave me the breather."

His 26-year-old compatriot, who moved to his parents' birthplace seven years ago after breing brought up in South Africa, insisted it was a team effort, though: "Nick helped me all week with my putting and we both saw the same line for the putt.

"It was a marvellous feeling when it went in because I knew that this was going to be my big moment. Nick's been my role model and my hero and now I've won the World Cup with him."

Faldo was elated at finally proving to himself that his game was back on song after scant encouragement since last winning 18 months ago when he took the Nissan LA title on the US Tour.

"If I could have holed a few putts it would have been a stroll," added the 41-year-old Englishman, "because tee-to-green my game's been so solid this week, even in 40 mph winds.

"The workload I've given myself in the last three months to get my game back, has paid off and now I want to get back into the world's top 10 again.

"For the moment it's pretty special to win a trophy which has the names of Hogan, Snead, Palmer and Nicklaus on it," he said.

Faldo was denied the individual trophy by American Scott Verplank, who equalled the course record 63 set earlier by Sweden's Patrik Sjoland to aggregate nine-under-par 279.

"It all went right at the best time," said Verplank after needing only 21 putts to post his record-equalling round.

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