His victory in The 1999 Open Championship will forever be remembered as he came from ten strokes behind with a magnificent final round of 67 to book his place in the four-hole play-off, birdieing the final two holes to beat Frenchman Jean Van de Velde and the 1997 Open Champion Justin Leonard. He returned to Scotland for his next victory, in 2001, at the inaugural Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, holing a 40 foot birdie putt at the last on the Old Course which won that season’s European Tour Shot of the Year. Enjoyed something of a renaissance in 2011 and 2012, winning three times to claim a place in the 2012 European Ryder Cup Team, and delivered a vital point in the Sunday Singles against Brandt Snedeker as Europe staged a miraculous comeback. Ended a hugely impressive season tenth in The Race to Dubai – his highest finish for ten years. Worked as an assistant under the late Doug Smart in Banchory, near Aberdeen, and the club have now named the 14th hole after him. Made a superb Ryder Cup debut at Brookline in 1999, hitting the opening tee shot and claiming three and a half points. Awarded honorary law doctorate from Robert Gordon’s University in his native Aberdeen and made an Honorary Life Member of The European Tour. Awarded OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Actively involved in promoting the game at grass roots through the Paul Lawrie Foundation.