Golf’s governing bodies have been under fire for inflation-busting ticket prices, but three-time Champion Golfer Sir Nick Faldo believes he has a much better solution that works for everyone…
Sir Nick Faldo says he is “disappointed” to see how expensive ticket prices have become at golf’s biggest events.
The R&A came under fire recently for putting a £190 price tag on the final round of the 155th Open at St Andrews, while Ryder Cup Europe faced similar criticism when it was confirmed that tickets for next year’s showdown at Adare Manor will set the average punter back €499.
And Faldo, talking to TG ahead of his various duties at Royal Birkdale this week, can’t understand why the fans are the ones being used to boost the coffers.
After a brief moment of nostalgia to recall a time when you could rock up on the day, pay your £15 and walk in, Faldo sighs. “It’s a shame that they feel that the tickets is a way to be profitable,” he says.
And when TG ventures for an alternative solution, the six-time major champion leans into his camera and raises his voice just enough to make it known that he’s not joking.
“Go and find another sponsor that will cover it!” Faldo, who lifted the Claret Jug in 1987, 1990 and 1992, says.
“You’ve got to believe the marketing team should be able to sell The Open and the Ryder Cup. And it would be nice for a company to say, ‘We are going to subsidize the ticket prices for the fans.’ That would be a very good PR touch, I would have thought.
“I’m disappointed. You have to look after the fans. Make the money corporately – which you’ve got to be able to do that at those two events. Crumbs.
“What were they up to, now? Twenty bucks for a beer at the Ryder Cup? It’s what’s so good about Augusta. They don’t rip you off with the food and drinks prices.”
Regardless of where the money comes from, any sporting event has got to be, as Faldo puts it, “for the fan”.
“You don’t want it to be corporate,” he explains. “I’ve been to Super Bowls, which is all corporate, and it’s terrible.
“Fortunately, moons ago, I went to Liverpool versus Manchester United at Wembley for an FA Cup final. I mean, talk about an atmosphere! Two teams who are fierce rivals, and two sets of true fans.
“And what we really want back in there is the true fans.”