Made history at the 2009 US PGA Championship when he became the first Asian Major winner and the first man to overturn a Tiger Woods 54 hole lead in a Major Championship. Ensured he kept on the title trail in April 2010 when he captured the Volvo China Open in Suzhou. His three stroke victory over Woods at Hazeltine made him the third European Tour Member after Vijay Singh and Padraig Harrington to win the US PGA Championship. It was his second victory in America in 2009 following the Honda Classic. Claimed the honour of winning the first tournament of The 2007 European Tour International Schedule when he held off an elite field, including the impressive chasing pack of Major winners Michael Campbell, Retief Goosen and Woods, to win the HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai. Immediately took up European Tour Membership and thus went to the top of the Order of Merit, eventually finishing a creditable 28th. It was his third victory during the 2006 calendar year following earlier successes in Asia and Japan. Voted Korean PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1997 and, prior to winning the HSBC Champions, plied his trade on the Japan Golf Tour, winning four times from 2004. Only the third Korean to win on The European Tour, following in the footsteps of KJ Choi and Charlie Wi.