Secured his place in golfing folklore with a stunning victory in The 133rd Open Championship at Royal Troon in 2004, when he held off Ernie Els during a four hole play-off to lift the Claret Jug. His win sparked the biggest celebrations ever seen in his former home of Oquawka, Illinois, a sleepy town whose previous claim to fame was the circus elephant buried in the town square. Norma Jean, named after Marilyn Monroe, was killed in a lightning strike in 1972 and laid to rest where she lay as she was too heavy to be moved. Prior to his Open triumph, the American was one of the world’s most prolific winners, having won four times in Japan the previous year. Played the Asian and Japan Tours, winning 14 times, prior to winning his US PGA Tour card at the eighth attempt at the end of 2003. Further underlined his potential when winning the 2004 Honda Classic on the US PGA Tour in only his 18th career start.