Faldo: Longshot To Win A Major

December 25, 1998 / 10:24 PM EST / CBS/AP

Nick Faldo, once the bookmakers' favorite to win any of the four major tournaments, is now a longshot.

After the worst slump of his spectacular career, Faldo is quoted at 40-1 to win the Masters, the Open Championships or the PGA and 50-1 for the U.S. Open.

Faldo has won three Masters and three Opens.

The odds on Colin Montgomerie, who has never won a major, are half the odds on Faldo.

"Three years ago Faldo was the automatic favorite to win any tournament, including any of the majors," said Andy Clifton, spokesman for bookmakers Ladbrokes.

"Even for the Open of '97 we quoted him as 16-1. At this year's event he was 80-1. That's how bad he was in the first half of the year."

Yet, Faldo managed to end 1998 with a victory when he and partner David Carter teamed to capture the World Cup for England in New Zealand.

Ladbrokes quotes Tiger Woods as clear favorite to win any of the majors.

He's 5-1 for the Masters, 8-1 for the Open, 9-1 for the U.S. Open and 9-1 for the PGA,

1998 Majors -- Opening Betting
Player	U.S. Masters	U.S. Open	The Open	U.S. PGA
Darren Clarke	50	33	50	50
Fred Couples	20	33	33	33
David Duval	14	16	16	16
Steve Elkington	33	40	50	50
Ernie Els	16	16	14	16
Nick Faldo	40	40	50	50
Jim Furyk	25	25	25	25
Lee Janzen	50	66	33	40
Bernhard Langer	50	40	50	50
Tom Lehman	33	40	33	33
Justin Leonard	33	33	25	33
Davis Love III	20	33	20	20
Phil Mickelson	33	50	40	40
Colin Montgomerie	20	20	16	20
Greg Norman	33	33	40	40
José Maria Olazábal	50	50	66	66
Mark O'Meara	25	25	33	25
Jesper Parnevik	50	33	40	40
Nick Price	33	25	25	25
Vijay Singh	20	25	25	20
Steve Stricker	33	40	33	33
Lee Westwood	16	14	20	16
Tiger Woods	5	8	9	9
Ian Woosnam	66	50	66	66