A three-time European Tour winner, he claimed victory at the BMW PGA Championship in record breaking style in 2002, setting a new low aggregate for the West Course - a 19 under par total of 269 that beat the previous record of 270 held by Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie.

Went on to win that same tournament again five years later, defeating Justin Rose in a play-off.

Topped the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit in 2009, becoming the first European to do so since 1972, and two years later finished a career-high seventh in the Race to Dubai after five top-three performances.