Showed signs of an overdue return to form with a much improved 2012 season, finishing 62nd in The Race to Dubai to shake off the frustration of a succession of injuries over the previous few seasons. A tied fourth place finish in the Alstom Open de France was the highlight of that season, although he was bitterly disappointed to just miss out on the season-ending DP Tour World Championship, Dubai, as the emirate is his home for half the year. Keeps himself busy with after-dinner speaking and TV commentating while working towards a return to his halcyon days of 2006. That season was his finest on Tour, starting with his victory in the HSBC Champions when he out-scored playing partner Tiger Woods, before capturing the BMW PGA Championship, becoming the first English winner of the event since Sir Nick Faldo in 1989. Made his Ryder Cup debut in 2004, and produced The European Tour’s Shot of the Year at Oakland Hills, a six iron to five feet on the par three 17th hole that helped secure a vital point. As an amateur, won the British Boys Championship in 1993 and was part of the 1995 Walker Cup victory at Royal Porthcawl. Collected his first professional victory in November 1998 when he won the Australian PGA Championship by seven strokes, three months before his maiden European Tour win at the 1999 Dubai Desert Classic.