Nick Faldo couldn’t stay away, will return to TV booth next week for the Masters

Nick Faldo didn’t stay away from the television booth for very long. He’s expected to make his return next week at Augusta National, one of the places that he loves most.

Eight months after retiring from CBS Sports and Golf Channel, saying he would never return for another full-time gig, the Telegraph reported that the six-time major winner will do some commentating next week for Sky Sports’ coverage of the Masters. It will not be available in the United States.

“Phones are ablaze!” Faldo’s wife, Lindsay, posted on Twitter. “Someone leaked the news of Nick calling the Masters for @SkySportsGolf and now everyone wants to chat him up and know how to get @SkySportsGolf in the USA. Warms the heart.”

Faldo, 65, is a three-time Masters champion and was already going to be at Augusta National for Tuesday’s Champions Dinner so the news is not a surprise. He has been spending time with family on his new ranch in Montana, which he posts about frequently on his social media channels.

When he retired last year, after 16 years as lead analyst at CBS, rumors began to swirl that he’d potentially do some television work for LIV Golf, but he staunchly debunked those. He’s been vocal about his feelings toward the Saudi-backed league, saying he’s not exactly fond of what the upstart league is doing. Faldo has always considered LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman to be a nemesis. Norman took a six-shot lead into the final round of the 1996 Masters and shot 78. Faldo shot 67 to win his third green jacket by five shots.

It's not clear exactly what Faldo will be doing for Sky Sports at the Masters, however, or what other gigs he will select. Sky Sports has not officially released the news. The original Telegraph report does say that it’s expected that Faldo will work in a similar capacity for the British-based network at the Open Championship this summer at Royal Liverpool.