Player
Profile
Came
close to becoming the first player to win the
European Tour Qualifying School Finals twice.
In 1996, he lost his card by one place and a
small matter of €1,120 (£800), but reclaimed
it by taking first place at San Roque. Three
years on, he was back on the Costa del Sol with
a one shot lead going into the last day, but
finished second to Alastair Forsyth. A three-time
winner on the Challenge Tour in 1993, he finished
17th to gain card in US PGA Tour School in 1997.
Attempted to play in America and Europe in 1998
and admitted it was a mistake – “I spent all
my time on a plane!” Decision to re-focus totally
on Europe paid off with victory in Madeira Island
Open in 2000.
Shot to international fame by finishing second
to David Duval in the 130th Open Golf Championship
at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2001. It was
the first time he had played in a Major after
five failed attempts to qualify for the Open
Championship and he performed magnificently
to earn a place in The European Ryder Cup Team.
Proved he could handle the big occasion by pushing
Ernie Els all the way in the 2002 Dubai Desert
Classic before playing his part in Europe’s
memorable Ryder Cup triumph at The De Vere Belfry.
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