James Lawton: Henman the role model

Tim Henman's remarkably dogged progress to the quarter-finals of the French Open and Nick Faldo's impressive showing at Wentworth's important Volvo PGA Championship, crowned by a last-day 66 which took him into fourth place, once again put them into a special category in British sport.

Tim Henman's remarkably dogged progress to the quarter-finals of the French Open and Nick Faldo's impressive showing at Wentworth's important Volvo PGA Championship, crowned by a last-day 66 which took him into fourth place, once again put them into a special category in British sport.

They are far from the most talented performers produced in these islands but in their attitude, and their resilience, they are surely a superb example to the country's youth.

Henman has carried the nation's unrealistic hopes of glory for so long now but if it is a burden, he carries it without complaint in pursuing the elusive prize of a Grand Slam win. That he should get so far on the red courts of Roland Garros is another huge testament to his will.

Faldo, even after six majors and at a time when he is perfectly entitled to cruise along with frequent stops to smell the flowers, practises as hard as any young buck. On a weekend dominated by the usual wild rhetoric of overpaid, underachieving football stars, Faldo and Henman shone brilliantly.