Didn’t win in 2005 but tied eighth in the Volvo China Open and also the Open de France, an event which Colin Montgomerie wrested from his grasp in 2000.

Son of a chicken farmer, he overcame inexplicable sciatic pains in both legs to win in the old Czechoslovakia before claiming the Open Novotel Perrier with Steven Bottomley later the same year. Doctors advised him to play through the pain barrier – which he did successfully.

Made four unsuccessful attempts to gain card through the Qualifying School but graduated through the Challenge Tour in 1993. Won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award in 1994 when he finished 32nd in the Order of Merit after having finished tied third in the Benson and Hedges International Open, tied fourth in the Dubai Desert Classic, and tied fifth in the Scottish Open. Had the honour of scoring the first hole in one on The European Tour in the new millennium, acing the eighth hole in the second round of the 2000 curtain-raiser, the dunhill championship.