Born in South Korea, he turned professional in 1996, was voted Korean PGA Tour Rookie of the Yea r in 1997 and, prior to winning the HSBC Champions, plied his trade on the Japan Golf Tour, winning four times from 2004. Became then only the third Korean to win on the European Tour, following in the footsteps of KJ Choi and Charlie Wi.

Made history at the US PGA Championship in 2009, when he became the first Asian Major winner and the first man to come from behind to beat Tiger Woods in the final round of a Major. Added a third European Tour title at the 2010 Volvo China Open.