Faldo finds the form to be intimidating again

If you didn't know Nick Faldo better you would think he would be a contented 44-year-old when he sets out on a Sunday round at Wentworth today. After all, his stated contention at the start of the week was to finish in the top two so that he might not have to suffer the ignominy of having to go through next week's pre-qualifying for the US Open in New York in June.

After a third-round 68 yesterday the six-time major winner made huge strides to catch those tying for second place and if he carries on the form that he showed on the back nine yesterday he must be among the favourites to secure a podium finish. But it is a mark of the man and a gauge of his belligerence that he will see Anders Hansen eight shots ahead of him at the front and he will have only one aim – catch the Dane, win the event.

Whatever you think of Faldo, and to most that equates to not a lot, you cannot but admire the way he has haunted the fairways when all around were telling him to give up the ghost. Faldo has always believed, however, that honesty on the practice ground pays and after years of his relentless quest to reoccupy the leader boards' higher placings his name is finally troubling the scorers once again.

If not all, then most of the European Tour are glad to see him and his wonderfully manic caddy, Fanny Suneson, back if only to placate the sponsors and put money through the gates.

Yesterday, following Faldo around was rewarding even before he unleashed his barrage of birdies that helped him home in 32 to go with his inward 31 on Friday. Indeed, if Faldo could get the old bones working more quickly and get some figures in the red on the opening nine then he might have been the one who could have lived with Hansen.

His playing partner yesterday was David Gilford, which was appropriate on one of the great matchplay courses as the two once played together in a head-to-head classic. The scene was Kiawah Island in 1991 and Faldo and Gilford uttered not a word to each other in what even for the most niggly Ryder Cup was described as a hostile encounter.

The problem was that Faldo and Gilford were on the same side and in foursomes, if not in life, partners are supposed to talk. The upshot was deep humiliation for both, a seven-and-six defeat by Paul Azinger and Mark O'Meara who in contrast to their silent partners whooped, hollered and high-fived their way to victory.

The blame was laid firmly with Faldo, who as the senior player should have coaxed an understandably nervous Gilford through in what was his first, and so far only, Ryder Cup. Gilford is too quiet and too nice a man to let any public bitterness manifest itself but he was understood to be privately seething at Faldo's snub. And for the first nine yesterday, Gilford held sway in the war of no words as he moved three clear of Faldo playing the 12th. That was before Faldo summoned five birdies in seven holes that had the galleries harking back to the days of his three victories here (two World Matchplays and one PGA).

Gilford, to his credit, did not crumble and negated two bogeys with two birdies in the final stretch to finish one behind Faldo. But with the putter and those wonderful mid-irons reminiscent of the Faldo of the golden era many will be coming to Surrey today hopeful of seeing one of those famous charges.

Faldo, himself, was not counting anything out: "It's down to him to win and lose. I don't think my name intimidates players any more, they just look at me and think he used to be good.'' Faldo for one, believes such writing-off may be more than premature.