Faldo missed the Open at Royal Birkdale last year

Nick Faldo will compete in his 33rd Open and 96th major championship at Turnberry in July.

The 51-year-old six-time major champion missed last year's Open for the first time since 1975 as he was focused on the Ryder Cup captaincy.

He also turned down a Masters return in April because of television commentary commitments, but will be competing at Turnberry for the fourth time.

Faldo won the last of his three Opens at Muirfield in 1992.

The former world number one, who no longer competes regularly on tour, also won at Muirfield in 1987 and triumphed at St Andrews in 1990.

Faldo, who was European Ryder Cup captain for the defeat at Valhalla, Kentucky, last September, was eighth when the Open was last staged at Turnberry in 1994.

He also came fifth over the famous Ailsa course in 1986 and was 62nd at Turnberry in 1977 - the famous "Duel in the Sun" in which Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus.

Watson, now 59, and 1986 winner Greg Norman, a memorable third at Birkdale a year ago at the age of 53, have also entered this year's Open, but 1994 champion Nick Price is not expected to play.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington will be going for a third straight Open title when the tournament takes place on the west coast of Scotland from 16-19 July.

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