Sir Nick Faldo has described being knighted by the Queen as an "unbelievable experience".

The most successful British golfer in the modern era said he never dreamed of receiving such an honour following the ceremony at Windsor Castle.

The 52-year-old said: "It was amazing. That was an unbelievable experience.

"I had dreams as a young boy of being a golfer and winning tournaments, but you don't dream of this.

"When I found out in the summer, my first thought was of riding my bike through the woods to the golf course when I was just starting out.

"I played my first round of golf on my 14th birthday."

The sportsman becomes a "sir" on the back of a career which has seen him win six majors, including three Opens.

He added: "The Queen said: 'You've been in the game a long time'.

"I said: 'Yes, ma'am - for 30 years'."

Examining his medal in its presentation box, Sir Nick said: "That's pretty special - look at that fella."

Asked which of his majors he was most proud of, the golfer said: "Majors are like children.

"It's impossible to pick, but the first one is special because you finally break through.

"Next year, I celebrate 20 years of winning in 1990.

"They all mean a hell of a lot."

Sir Nick was captain of Europe's Ryder Cup team, which lost to the US last year.

"Of course, that week we had 24 players that played their heart out, but the Americans beat us that time," he said.

He added that he had loved the experience of the cup, obviously apart from the result, and said the players would be determined to win next year after being beaten.

"I'm rooting for the guys to go and win the Ryder Cup back," he added.

Sir Nick, who has been coaching in Brazil, welcomed the move to reintroduce golf to the Olympics in 2016 for the first time since 1904.

"As a golfer, I would have loved in my trophy cabinet to have had a gold medal," he said.

"The Olympics is such a special event.

"I'm sure it's going to be amazing."

He was watched during the castle investiture by his four children, Natalie, Matthew, Georgia and Emma.