Became the first European to win back-to-back Major Championships by adding the 2008 US PGA Championship to the 2008 Open Championship crown he won a month earlier, having successfully defended the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale.

Famously won his first Major title at The 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie, defeating Sergio Garcia in a play-off. Earlier that year, he became the first Irishman to win his national Open for 25 years, winning the Irish Open at Adare Manor.

Those three Major wins in the space of 13 months took him to a career-high third in the Official World Golf Ranking. He was also named European Tour, PGA Tour and PGA of America Player of the Year in 2008.

In 2006, he was crowned European Tour Number One after a season in which he won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

In addition to his three Major Championships, he has won 12 times on the DP World Tour, three victories on the PGA TOUR and six on the PGA Tour Champions.

A Ryder Cup regular from 1999 to 2010, he was on the winning side four times, and was named Vice Captain in 2014, 2016 and 2018. Captained the European Ryder Cup team at the rescheduled 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in September 2021.