Country: Scotland
Born: 23 June 1963
Residence: Oxshott, England
Interests: Music, cars, DIY, films

Six years after he won the last of his seven successive Order of Merit titles, the Scot returned to the summit of European golf when he captured his eighth Harry Vardon Trophy as the leading money winner in 2005. At the start of the year he was lying 83rd in the Official World Golf Ranking having finished last year’s Order of Merit in 25th position. By the end of the season climbed to 15th in the World and had returned to the position he made his own during the 1990s, namely top of the Order of Merit. Second place in The Open Golf Championship at St Andrews to Tiger Woods was followed by victory at the same venue a few weeks later in the dunhill links championship and his joint third place the following week at the WGC – American Express Championship took him to the top. Also led Great Britain and Ireland to a third successive victory in the Seve Trophy. The Ryder Cup has always figured highly and so it continued in 2004 where his superb performance at Oakland Hills was pivotal to Europe’s overall success, eventually holing the winning putt on Sunday on the final green to beat David Toms in the singles. Followed on from The De Vere Belfry in 2002 where he was top scorer with four and a half points out of five and his victory over Toms meant he remained unbeaten in seven Ryder Cup singles matches stretching back to 1991. Has won somewhere around the world at least once every year since 1993. Born in Scotland but raised in Yorkshire where father, James, was a company director. Attended Houston Baptist University. Father retired as Secretary of Royal Troon in 1997. Lost out to Ernie Els in a play-off for 1994 US Open Championship at Oakmont and was runner-up to Els once more in the US Open in 1997 at Congressional. Also defeated in sudden-death by Steve Elkington for the US PGA Championship at Riviera in 1995. Attended investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in November 1998 to receive MBE from Her Majesty The Queen, while that has subsequently been ‘upgraded’ to an OBE in the 2005 New Year’s Honours List.