Produced a remarkable performance at the 2012 US PGA Championship – the second Major appearance of his career – by finishing runner-up behind Rory McIlroy thanks to two weekend rounds of 68. The €712,914 prize money was by far the biggest cheque of his career and also helped him finish a personal-best 18th in The Race to Dubai. Also made it 13 consecutive seasons finishing in the top 90 of the money list. Only European Tour victory came at the 2004 KLM Open, a week after he lost a lucky ball marker which had served him for ten years. Often consulted a series of famous quotations to inspire him but ultimately put his victory down to a different token of luck, an 1891 ‘Queen’s Shilling’ which soldiers were handed when going to war, given to him by his father after losing his Wedgwood China ball marker the week before going to Holland. Won his card through the Challenge Tour in 1997, but missed eight cuts by just one shot to lose it. Regained it through a strong performance at the Qualifying School in 1999 and has not looked back since. A former England amateur international, he won the Greek Amateur Open Championship in 1994, finishing eight strokes ahead of his compatriot David Howell.