After steady, if unspectacular, seasons in 2010 and 2011, he started 2012 in fine form, finishing fourth in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, tied second in the Avantha Masters and tied seventh in the BMW PGA Championship, before landing the biggest title of his career in the Alstom Open de France. Carded a final round 67 at Le Golf National in Paris to hold off Francesco Molinari and win for the second time on The European Tour, following his 2004 victory in the dunhill championship. Addded a third title in April 2013 with a wire-to-wire victory in the Trophée Hassan II. Won the World Cup for Germany in Barbados in 2006 when he teamed up with Bernhard Langer, but lost his card the following season. Underlined his support of the Challenge Tour at the start of 2007 when he lent his name to the POSTBANK Challenge presented by Marcel Siem. That support reflected the rapid progress he made from the Approved Third Level EPD Tour through the Challenge Tour, before a final step up to The European Tour and his first tournament win in South Africa in 2004, a journey which took just three years. Owned his first club as a two year old when he would play with a little putter but really started playing at the age of six. His parents ran a golf club restaurant at Burge Overbach in Cologne. His father, Heinz, was a professional handball player before getting injured when aged 23.