Player
Profile
Became
the first European to win one of the World Golf
Championships events, capturing the Accenture
Match Play Championship in February 2000, beating
David Duval in the semi-final and Tiger Woods
in the 36 hole final at La Costa Resort and
Spa. Had made a slower start to 1999, winning
The Compass Group English Open in fine style
then in the Smurfit European Open he became
the first player on The European Tour to shoot
60 for a second time. Equalled three records
– most birdies (12), consecutive birdies (eight)
and the low round on The European Tour (ninth
time 60 had been achieved).
Won Benson and Hedges International Open in
May 1998 to set up a bold attack on the Volvo
Order of Merit title. Almost succeeded – finishing
second after capturing Volvo Masters Andalucia
with closing record-equalling 63. Topped Reuters
Performance Data Stroke Averages in 1998. Helped
organise special Pro-Am at Portmarnock in September
that year in aid of the victims of the Omagh
bombing tragedy. Always keen on fast cars and
is a familiar sight in his gleaming Ferrari
with the registration DC 60 – a reference to
those low rounds. Retained The Compass Group
English Open in 2000, coming from six shots
behind on the last day to beat Michael Campbell
and Mark James – the last person to defend successfully
in 1989 and 1990. Led the Volvo Order of Merit
race going into the final week at Valderrama
but his position of tied 17th in the WGC-American
Express Championship was not sufficient to prevent
Lee Westwood claiming the title of Europe’s
Number One.
Won in South Africa for the first time at the
start of 2001, capturing the Dimension Data
Pro-Am. Also won The Crowns tournament in Japan
before capturing his first European Tour title
of the year on home soil in the Smurfit European
Open at The K Club in July – the first Irishman
to win in Ireland since John O’Leary 19 years
earlier. Became the first person to win The
Compass Group English Open three times in June
2002. Part of a winning European Ryder Cup Team
for the second time when he helped beat the
United States 151/2 – 121/2 at The De Vere Belfry
in September, 2002.
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