As a man who has earned his private pilot’s licence, he was certainly flying high in April 2011 when he won the Masters Tournament for his first Major Championship title. Capitalised on Rory McIlroy’s collapse on the final day to win by two and don the green jacket 50 years after compatriot Gary Player became the first overseas golfer to do so. The victory reinforced his position at the top of The Race to Dubai following his victory in the Joburg Open, where he successfully defended his title, and he went on to finish the season in fourth place. Only the second player to win three consecutive Sunshine Tour Order of Merit titles between 2005 (the year he won his first European Tour title, the Dunhill Championship on home soil) and 2007, he continues a fine family tradition of golfers as his father, George, was a useful amateur before turning professional and his brother, Adrian, who caddies for his older sibling on occasions, is also making a name for himself on the South African circuit. Overcame illness to win the inaugural Madrid Masters in 2008, having considered withdrawing before the second round due to a virus and a shoulder injury. It was his second victory in the Spanish capital following his victory in the 2007 Open de España at the Centro Nacional de Golf. Became the then third youngest player to secure his European Tour card through the Qualifying School when, at the age of 18 years and 81 days, he claimed 24th place in 2002 after a promising amateur career. Fulfilled a childhood dream when he represented South Africa alongside close friend Louis Oosthuizen at the 2011 Omega Mission Hills World Cup.