“You climb Everest you don’t exactly turn around and go back again”
—
OAKMONT,Pa.—Onhiswaytowinningsixmajortitles,NickFaldolearnedfirst-handtherazor-thinlinebetweenthethrillofvictoryandtheagonyofdefeat.
Thethree-timeMasterschampionservedasleadanalystforSkyTV’scoverageoftheMastersinEuropeandinhispithystylemusedduringthebacknineonSundaythatonegreatshotwouldwinitandonepoorshotwouldloseitforMcIlroy.Faldowasn’twrongexceptforonemiscalculation.“Hehadaboutsixofeach,”hesaid.“Roryreallyputusthroughtheringer.”
Indeed.AndthenFaldoturnedphilosophicalaboutMcIlroy’sdramaticsudden-deathvictoryoverJustinRoseinApriltoclaimtheGreenJacket,hisfirstfifthmajorandfirstinnearly11years,andthesixthgolfertocompletethecareerGrandSlam.“Thatwinningputtgoesinandhe’sbecomeanabsolutelegendandwalkinginfieldsofgold–tostealanoldStingline,”Faldosaid.“ButifRosehadholedandRoryhitsaperfectputtanditlipsouthislifewould’vebeenruined.Isn’titridiculous?”
Almostassillyastheknee-jerkreactionthatwitht
