By Ken Ferris
LONDON (Reuters) - Nick Faldo, the most successful British golfer of the modern era, will receive a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honors List.
Former world number one Faldo, 51, won six majors, including three Opens, during an illustrious career and was captain of the European Ryder Cup team that lost to the Americans last year.
"I am more than a little bit humbled and delighted to have been afforded this great honor," Faldo was quoted as saying by British media on Saturday.
"It has come as a real surprise and the reaction from my children, family and friends has made this a very special moment for me.
"I believe I join Sir Henry Cotton as the only other professional British golfer to receive a knighthood, so to stand alongside such esteemed company is incredible."
The twice-yearly Queen's list recognizes achievements in all walks of British life, from the rich and famous to community workers.
VERY HONOURED
There are also MBEs for England's World Cup-winning women's cricket captain Charlotte Edwards, badminton player Gail Emms and former England cricketer Graeme Hick, regarded by many as one of the most naturally gifted batsmen of his generation.
"This is an accolade -- you just feel very honored," the 43-year-old Zimbabwean-born Hick told Sky Sports News.
"It's not like going out to bat and getting 100 and feeling good about it. This has come out of the blue."
Hick, who featured in 65 Test matches and 120 one-day internationals for England, retired from playing for Worcestershire at the end of last season.
He averaged 52.23 with the bat and became the 16th player to pile up more than 40,000 first-class runs. He was named by Wisden as one of their cricketers of the year in 1987.
The hard-hitting batsman averaged 31.32 in 65 tests for England after making his debut against West Indies at Headingley, Leeds in 1991.
The 31-year-old Emms, one of Britain's most successful badminton players, retired after last year's Beijing Olympics. She won a silver medal in the mixed doubles at the 2004 Athens Games and bronze, silver and gold at the 2006 Commonwealths.
(Additional reporting by Matt Falloon; Editing by Ian Ransom)
Source: Reuters
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