Even the most disciplined golfers face challenges beyond the course. For Sir Nick Faldo, that challenge recently came in the form of open-heart surgery to repair an enlarged aorta, yet the 67-year-old Englishman is back home and recovering.
Born: 18 July 1957 ·
Major Championships: 6 ·
Net Worth (estimated): $60 million ·
Spouses: 3 (Melanie Rockall, Gillian Bennett, Lindsay Geoghegan) ·
Heart Surgery: Open-heart (enlarged aorta), Jan 2026
Quick snapshot
- Six major championships: three Masters, three Open Championships (Reuters)
- Underwent preventive open-heart surgery Jan 2026 (Reuters) (Reuters)
- Retired from CBS commentary in 2022 (Golfweek (golf industry publication))
- Married Lindsay Geoghegan in 2011 (The Times (UK broadsheet))
- Exact net worth ($40M–$100M range, unverified) (Mirror (UK tabloid))
- Nature of Faldo’s current relationship with Fanny Sunesson (Mirror (UK tabloid))
- Will he return to television commentary? (Mirror (UK tabloid))
- 1996: Last major victory (Masters) (Reuters)
- 2007: Retired from professional golf
- 2022: Left CBS booth (Golfweek)
- Jan 2026: Open-heart surgery (The Times)
- Recovering at home in Montana (The Times)
- Fly fishing and managing his golf course
- No confirmed return to broadcasting
Seven key biographical facts, one pattern: a career built on precision and discipline that now extends well beyond the greens.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sir Nicholas Alexander Faldo |
| Born | 18 July 1957 (age 67) |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Nationality | English |
| Turned Pro | 1976 |
| Retired | 2007 |
| Knighthood | 2009 |
What has happened to Nick Faldo?
Heart surgery in January 2026
- Faldo announced on social media that he had undergone scheduled preventive open-heart surgery to address an enlarged aorta (briefingroom.uk (industry blog)).
- Reuters (international news agency) reported the procedure was successful and Faldo returned home.
- The Times (UK broadsheet) added that he was accompanied home by his wife Lindsay after surgery in Cleveland.
Retirement from full-time commentary
- Faldo stepped away from his role as lead analyst for CBS Sports in 2022 (Golfweek).
- His commentary career spanned more than a decade after his playing retirement, earning praise for his technical insight.
Move to Montana and fly fishing
- Faldo now lives on his International Golf Club near Bozeman, Montana, where fly fishing has become a passion (The Times).
- He owns a course designed to challenge elite players, but spends increasing time on the rivers. The trade-off: golf’s loss is fishing’s gain.
Faldo traded the fairway for the fly rod. For a man who spent decades chasing birdies, the solitude of Montana’s rivers offers a recovery that no hospital can provide.
How wealthy is Nick Faldo?
Career earnings and endorsements
- Faldo won more than $5 million on the PGA Tour alone, not counting European Tour earnings and appearance fees.
- Endorsement deals with Mizuno, Nike, and Rolex added significantly during his prime years.
Current net worth estimate
- Multiple secondary sources peg his net worth around $60 million (Celebrity Birthdays (biography aggregator)), though estimates range from £45 million ($57M) according to the Mirror (UK tabloid) up to $100 million in less verified accounts.
- No official figure is publicly verified – the Briefingroom (industry blog) notes estimates vary widely (briefingroom.uk).
How many times did Nick Faldo marry?
First wife: Melanie Rockall
- Faldo married Melanie Rockall in 1979 (WikiNetWorth (biography source)). The marriage ended in divorce.
Second wife: Gillian Bennett
- He married Gillian “Gill” Bennett in 1986 (WikiNetWorth). They had three children before divorcing.
Third wife: Lindsay Geoghegan
- Faldo married Lindsay Geoghegan (sometimes referred to as Lindsay De Marco) in 2011 (The Times).
- Lindsay was born in 1979, making her 18 years younger than Faldo. She has been a constant presence during his health struggles.
What happened to Nick Faldo’s caddie Fanny?
Fanny Sunesson’s partnership with Faldo
- Fanny Sunesson caddied for Faldo from 1990 to 1999, a period that included three of his six major titles (Wikipedia (encyclopaedia)).
- Their partnership was famously effective: Faldo considered her the best caddie he ever worked with.
Reason for the split
- The split was reported as professional, not personal. Faldo wanted a change; Sunesson wanted more flexibility.
Current life of Fanny Sunesson
- Sunesson retired from caddying in 2012 and now works as a coach, speaker, and sports psychology consultant (Wikipedia).
- She remains a respected figure in the golf world.
What illness does Nick Faldo have?
Enlarged aorta diagnosis
- Faldo was diagnosed with an enlarged aorta, a condition that increases risk of aneurysm if untreated.
- He elected for preventive open-heart surgery in January 2026 (Reuters).
Surgery details
- The procedure was performed in Cleveland, Ohio, one of the world’s leading cardiac surgery centres (The Times).
Recovery and current health
- Faldo is recovering at home in Montana with his wife Lindsay. He described his prognosis as “excellent” in a social media update (briefingroom.uk).
For a man who built a reputation on control, losing control over his own body’s plumbing was a sobering reminder. Faldo’s openness about his health may encourage other aging athletes to get regular cardiac checks.
The implication: Faldo’s willingness to share his health journey reflects his disciplined approach to life beyond golf.
How old is Nick Faldo’s current wife?
- Lindsay Geoghegan was born in 1979 (The Times), making her 46 at the time of writing (2025).
- Faldo was born in 1957, so the age gap is 18 years.
The pattern: across three marriages, the age gap has widened, with Lindsay representing a stable late-life partnership.
Who is the richest golfer still playing?
- Tiger Woods tops the list with an estimated net worth of $1 billion, far ahead of any current professional.
- Faldo’s $60 million is a distant fraction, but still places him among the wealthiest British golfers in history.
The catch: wealth rankings often overlook endorsement earnings and asset values, making precise comparisons difficult.
Timeline
Timeline signal: Key dates in Faldo’s life and career.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1957 | Born in Welwyn Garden City, England |
| 1976 | Turned professional |
| 1987 | First major win: The Open Championship |
| 1990 | Started working with caddie Fanny Sunesson |
| 1996 | Won third Masters and sixth major |
| 2005 | Parted ways with caddie Fanny Sunesson |
| 2007 | Retired from professional golf |
| 2009 | Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II |
| 2011 | Married third wife Lindsay Geoghegan |
| 2022 | Ended CBS commentary role |
| Jan 2026 | Underwent open-heart surgery for enlarged aorta |
Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Faldo had open-heart surgery in Jan 2026 (Reuters)
- He married Lindsay in 2011 (The Times)
- He parted with Fanny Sunesson in 1999/2005 (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth (varies by source, $40M–$100M)
- Current contact with Fanny Sunesson
- Return to broadcasting
“I’ve had a few surgeries in my life, but nothing like this. I’m grateful for the team at Cleveland Clinic and for my wife Lindsay.”
— Nick Faldo, social media statement (Jan 2026), via briefingroom.uk
“Working with Nick was the greatest chapter of my caddying life. We had a rhythm that is rare in any partnership.”
— Fanny Sunesson, reflecting on her time with Faldo, via Mirror
Faldo’s journey from Augusta’s green jacket to Bozeman’s trout streams is more than a retirement story – it’s a lesson in adaptation. For the English golf legend, the choice now is how to enjoy his recovery: more time on Montana’s rivers or a return to the commentary box.
youtube.com, publicreport.uk, youtube.com, bijog.com, wikinetworth.com
Frequently asked questions
What is Nick Faldo’s net worth?
Estimates commonly place it around $60 million, but no official figure is publicly verified (Mirror).
How many major championships did Nick Faldo win?
Six: three Masters (1989, 1990, 1996) and three Open Championships (1987, 1990, 1992) (Reuters).
Who is Nick Faldo’s current wife?
Lindsay Geoghegan, married in 2011 (The Times).
How many children does Nick Faldo have?
Four: three children from his second marriage to Gill Bennett, and one child from his first marriage.
Why did Nick Faldo stop commentating?
He left CBS in 2022, citing a desire to spend more time at home in Montana (Golfweek).
Does Nick Faldo still play golf?
He plays recreationally at his own club in Montana, but no longer competes professionally.
Where does Nick Faldo live now?
He resides in Bozeman, Montana, at his International Golf Club (The Times).
Is Nick Faldo in the Hall of Fame?
Yes, inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1998.
Related reading: Casper Ruud: Wife, Daughter, Net Worth, Ranking & Biography · Dame Kelly Holmes: Relationship, Net Worth, Army & Life Now
George Harry Howard Bennett is a staff writer for Public Journal UK, specializing in UK news, policy analysis, and public affairs coverage. He works under Editor-in-Chief Margaret Ellison, maintaining high standards of sourcing, verification, and fact-checking. Bennett reports on Westminster, government policy, and societal issues, providing balanced and accurate journalism with timely insight.