Knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in 2009. The year before, he captained Europe’s Ryder Cup Team at Valhalla, an appropriate honour as he has made a huge impression on the biennial contest since making his debut in 1977. He may have lost The Ryder Cup during his captaincy, but as a player was, and indeed remains, the all-time leading points scorer in the competition’s history with a record of P46-W23-L19-H4 from 11 Ryder Cups. The sight of Jack Nicklaus contesting the Masters Tournament on television in 1971 proved to be the defining moment in his life. Until then, cycling was his main pursuit. His mother Joyce organised a course of six lessons at Welwyn Garden City and within two years he had become an accomplished golfer. Won numerous professional tournaments, but decided to revamp his swing. The process was long and painstaking, but paid off as he won three Open Championships (1987-90-92) and three Masters titles (1989-90-96) with a new swing. Now a commentator with CBS and the Golf Channel and a strong supporter of junior golf through the Faldo Junior Series.