The highlight of his career came at the 2012 Tour Championship where victory gave him the US$10million prize for winning the FedEx Cup. Earlier in the year he won his third US PGA Tour title and entered the top 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time. During a practice round for The 141st Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes, he holed a driver from the tee on the 336-yard, par four 16th hole, and in the tournament proper, opened with rounds of 66 and 64 to equal the record for the lowest opening 36-hole score. Weekend rounds of 73 and 74 left him in a share of third place, four shots behind winner Ernie Els.

Was selected by United States Captain Davis Love III as a wild card for The 2012 Ryder Cup, and contributed one point from three matches, teaming up with Jim Furyk to defeat Northern Irish pair Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy in the Saturday morning Foursomes.

Was introduced to golf by his maternal grandmother, who managed a golf course in Missouri. Came through the Web.com Tour and in 2007 was named the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. Had garnered immediate attention that year after carding a course record-equalling 61 in the first round of the Buick Invitational.