Won the biggest title of his career at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in January 2012, where he held off Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Tiger Woods. That was his second win after he claimed the 2011 BMW Italian Open presented by CartaSi. Had come agonisingly close two years previously, losing a play-off to then amateur Shane Lowry for the Irish Open. Made his first World Golf Championship appearances as a result of that Abu Dhabi win, knocking out Adam Scott in the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and finishing 24th in the WGC-Cadillac Championship. Rose to prominence from a Midland PGA Professional and teacher with impressive performances in 2003 at the Benson and Hedges International Open and PGA Championship before fulfilling his dream of playing on The European Tour when, having taken up Affiliate Membership, he finished 116th on the 2003 Order of Merit from his seven invitations to secure his card.