Sportyard

First shot to prominence when he scored a 59 on the Satellite EPD tour before joining the Challenge Tour in August 2006. Had turned pro with a handicap of +5, played in only eight events in 2006 but finished fourth in the final Rankings after winning twice – including on his debut – to secure a place on the European Tour. Became the first German to be named Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year after a superb debut season in 2007. Won on his first appearance of the 2008 season in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, a second win – this time in his homeland at the BMW International Open – secured his place in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking. Continued to improve in 2009 with consecutive wins at the Open de France ALSTOM and The Barclays Scottish Open, but his Race to Dubai campaign was halted when he broke four bones in his foot while go-karting and was forced out of action for two months, an injury which resulted in him finishing third on the money list. A second win in three years at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship propelled him to sixth in the world. He went one better by climbing to fifth on the back of his US PGA Championship triumph, only the second German to win a Major.

Made his Ryder Cup debut at Celtic Manor in October in the victorious European team. Followed that by winning on his first competitive outing after Whistling Straits with victory in the KLM Open in the Netherlands and then became the first player since Tiger Woods in 2006 to win in three consecutive appearances when he won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Capped his season by winning the Race to Dubai.

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