Secured his place in the history books with a magnificent victory in The 139th Open Championship at St Andrews. His seven stroke win placed him alongside South African legends Bobby Locke, Gary Player and Ernie Els as Open Champions. It was only his ninth appearance in a Major Championship and came four months after his European Tour breakthrough, his victory in the Open de Andalucía de Golf instilling the belief that he could win. Nearly added another Major trophy in 2012 but lost to Bubba Watson in a play-off for the Masters Tournament, having produced a magical albatross in the final round at Augusta National - the first on the 575-yard par five second hole - with a 253-yard four iron. Bounced back from the disappointment by winning the Maybank Malaysian Open the following week. That was his second win of the season following his successful defence of the Africa Open in January. Ended the campaign with four consecutive top sixes in lucrative tournaments to finish a career-high third in The Race to Dubai, and continued in the same vein in 2013, winning the Volvo Golf Champions at Durban Country Club in January. Came through the Ernie Els Foundation, which he joined in 2000, and was part of the South African team, alongside fellow European Tour Member Charl Schwartzel, which won the World Junior Team Championships in 2001. Also won the Irish Amateur Open Stroke Play Championship before turning professional and then learning his trade on the Challenge Tour. Fulfilled a childhood dream when he represented South Africa alongside close friend Schwartzel in the 2011 Mission Hills World Cup. Has already set up his own foundation at Mossel Bay, his home course where he once shot 57, for the next generation of South African golfers, all of whom will have been inspired by his performance at the Home of Golf. His father and brother both played tennis at provincial level.