Sir Nick Faldo

The Long Putter

I've never had one in the bag competitively but I have tried it. I'm a traditionalist in the sense that it's called a golf swing, not a golf hinge. So I don't think you should be able to anchor it to your body. But it has lost its stigma of 20 years ago. Back then, if you went to the long putter it was a sign that you'd lost your nerve – or your mind! But now these kids, like Keegan Bradley, have been using them all their lives. It's here to stay. The R&A decided in the interest and enjoyment of the game to allow them.

I'd like the tour to have its own rulebook on equipment. You can't turn the clock back but you could say, for a tour pro, the driver is back to 300cc, not 460cc. It took them two years to work out that square grooves worked, when we [pros] knew that after two shots. When the ball came back with bits hanging off it – with a six-iron – that was the giveaway!

Tiger Woods

He won't be as dominant as he used to be. We talk about this all the time. He's not comfortable on the range, he's not comfortable on the golf course and he's probably not comfortable in his family life. He's certainly not comfortable in the business world. So a lot of things have changed rapidly for him in the last two years.

He was outstanding at the Masters. He got into contention, he did his usual and he was the normal Tiger on Sunday morning. The interesting bit was when got to 10-under. He stopped at 10 and eight or so guys went past him. That's the difference. [Past Formula One champion Jackie Stewart] used to say: "I controlled the speed of the race. If I went fast, they went fast. If I went slower, they went slower." And that's what Tiger used to be – until he went 10 shots ahead. Everyone followed him but now, these kids do their own thing. Also, in the last five years Tiger only had to take on one guy at a time. Now, and the Masters is the best example, there are eight to 10 guys who can have a go. That's the theme right now: anyone can and does win. Tiger can fend off one or two, but he can't fend off 10 guys.

Look at the average age of the winners. It's under 30. Tiger has lost his aura, and it may never come back.

The Masters

It gets better every year, it's unbelievable. We had 10 guys in with a shot [this year]. We didn't know which way to turn. So it's difficult for TV. If you have six guys putting for the lead at the same second, where do you go? You can miss the key putt. And it was hot. I was soaked. We sit in a little tower at the back of 18, with no aircon or anything. I was soaked through. But a great finish. [Charl] Schwartzel's four birdie finish was superb. I felt for Rory [McIlroy]. It was good that he bounced back [at the US Open]. He helps us out at the Faldo Series a lot. He came to our Grand Final and helped with clinics.