BIO & WINS

ian-profile

BIO

I have enjoyed an amazing journey from my humble upbringing in Stevenage, United Kingdom, to what some may call ‘living the dream’ in the United States.

Without boring you too much let me share a short summary of my experience so far.

My parents worked hard – mum working several jobs just to pay the bills. At the age of eleven I worked on a market stall selling clothes (you now know where the design flare for my golf clothes came from!).

School was ok, but my main passion was sport, football and golf playing with my older brother. I considered myself a decent footballer and was invited to a trial at Tottenham Hotspurs when I was thirteen years old. Well, it did not happen for me, never really had the chance to show my talent with so many kids competing and was told I would not advance forward.

That was the turning point for me. I loved my football and still do as a big Arsenal fan but made the crossover to golf as it’s just me and I am in control of my own destiny.

My first job in golf was working in the pro-shop at Jack O’Legs close to where we lived. You all know the press reports of me selling Mars Bars and tee pegs but really there was a lot more to it. At that time way before internet sales we had a large pro-shop with all the major brands so business was brisk and I learnt a lot about retail and marketing. With working I never had the opportunity to pursue an amateur career and at nineteen I turned assistant pro off a handicap of 4, played my first competition as a pro soon after and won! I went on to play the Challenge Tour in 1999 and made the European Tour in 2000. After six wins through 2005 I had the opportunity to join the PGA Tour and took the decision to make the move. Something I have never regretted and we have now made our family life in Orlando Florida.

You all know my passion for the Ryder Cup and I have been blessed to make my debut in 2004 at Oakland Hills, missed 2006 and then consecutively made the team from 2008 to 2014. We have a dedicated section on my web page to the Ryder Cup, one of the greatest sporting events in the world encapsulated by the miracle at Medinah in 2012.

To all my fans and followers on Twitter and Instagram I trust my web site will encompass the social media life we all enjoy and we will endeavour to share news on and off the course.

WINS

PGA Tour wins 3

Houston Open 2018​

MAR 29 - APR 1
WINNING SCORE TO PAR
73-64-65-67=269 4
MARGIN OF VICTORY RUNNER(S)-UP
2 strokes  Beau Hossler on hole 18

WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship

21 Feb 2010
4 and 2
RUNNER(S)-UP
 Paul Casey

WGC-HSBC Champions

4 Nov 2012
WINNING SCORE TO PAR
69-68-65-65=267 –21
MARGIN OF VICTORY RUNNER(S)-UP
2 strokes  Jason Dufner, Ernie Els,
 Phil Mickelson, Scott Piercy

European Tour wins 12

Italian Open

29 Oct 2000
WINNING SCORE TO PAR
66-67-65-69=267 −21
MARGIN OF VICTORY RUNNER(S)-UP
1 stroke  Gordon Brand, Jnr

Moroccan Open

15 Apr 2001
WINNING SCORE TO PAR
71-67-69-70=277 −15
MARGIN OF VICTORY RUNNER(S)-UP
2 strokes  David Lynn

Italian Open

3 Nov 2002
WINNING SCORE TO PAR
61-67-69=197 −19
MARGIN OF VICTORY RUNNER(S)-UP
2 strokes  Paul Lawrie

Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open

1 Jun 2003
WINNING SCORE TO PAR
65-67-68-70=270 −18
MARGIN OF VICTORY RUNNER(S)-UP
3 strokes  Darren Fichardt,  Jonathan Lomas, Jarrod Moseley

Nordic Open

10 Aug 2003
WINNING SCORE TO PAR
68-67-65-66=266 −22
MARGIN OF VICTORY RUNNER(S)-UP
1 stroke  Colin Montgomerie

Volvo Masters Andalucia

31 Oct 2004
WINNING SCORE TO PAR
71-67-69-70=277 −7
MARGIN OF VICTORY RUNNER(S)-UP
Playoff  Sergio García

XXXII Banco Madrid Valle Romano Open de Madrid Golf Masters

17 Sep 2006
WINNING SCORE TO PAR
67-66-64-69=266 −22
MARGIN OF VICTORY RUNNER(S)-UP
5 strokes Ignacio Garrido

Barclays Singapore Open

1 Nov 2009
WINNING SCORE TO PAR
66-64-72-72=274 −10
MARGIN OF VICTORY RUNNER(S)-UP
1 stroke Liang Wen-chong

WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship

21 Feb 2010
4 and 2
RUNNER(S)-UP
 Paul Casey

UBS Hong Kong Open

21 Nov 2010
WINNING SCORE TO PAR
67-60-64-67=258 −22
MARGIN OF VICTORY RUNNER(S)-UP
1 stroke  Simon Dyson,  Matteo Manassero

Volvo World Match Play Championship

22 May 2011
2 and 1
RUNNER(S)-UP
 Luke Donald

WGC-HSBC Champions

4 Nov 2012
WINNING SCORE TO PAR
69-68-65-65=267 −21
MARGIN OF VICTORY RUNNER(S)-UP
2 strokes  Jason Dufner,  Ernie Els,  Phil Mickelson,  Scott Piercy

Japan Golf Tour wins 1

Dunlop Phoenix

18 Nov 2007
WINNING SCORE TO PAR
(65-68-67-69=269) −11
MARGIN OF VICTORY RUNNER(S)-UP
3 strokes Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño

PGA Tour of Australasia wins 1

JBWere Masters

18 Dec 2011
WINNING SCORE TO PAR
65-68-69-67=269 −15
MARGIN OF VICTORY RUNNER(S)-UP
3 strokes Marcus Fraser

Challenge Tour wins 1

Open de Côte d'Ivoire

18 Apr 1999
WINNING SCORE TO PAR
(69-72-70-73=284) −4
MARGIN OF VICTORY RUNNER(S)-UP
2 strokes  Sébastien Delagrange,  David Park,  Marc Pendaries

Other wins 1

The Shark Shootout

2010 with Dustin Johnson