MY AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS
INITIALLY, as a schoolboy, football was my first sporting interest, which explains my love for Liverpool and the reason why I have often been seen wearing the Reds’ crest on my golf shoes.
It was not until my grandfather, Bill Trueman, handed me a seven-iron when I was ten that I realised there was another sport out there to focus my mind on.
From that moment on my journey towards becoming a Tour pro rather than playing regular football had started. I dedicated an incredible amount of time to the fairways and greens at Hartlepool Golf Club to develop my game.
I was fortunate to enjoy a successful amateur career. I won many tournaments at boys’ and men’s level, capped by winning the biggest prize of all: The British Amateur Championship at Royal County Down in 1999.
That got me to my first Open Championship and the US Masters the following year.
I also represented England as well as Great Britain & Ireland at every level during my amateur days including being on the winning Walker Cup team in 1999.
BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENTS
- Winner of the 1994 English Boys’ Under-16 Championship
- Winner of the 1996 English Boys’ Stroke Play Championship
- Winner of the 1996 European Junior Championship
- Runner-up in the 1996 World Boys’ Championship
- Winner of the 1999 British Amateur Championship
- Holed the winning putt for Great Britain & Ireland to win the Walker Cup in 1999
From that moment on my journey towards becoming a Tour pro rather than playing regular football had started. I dedicated an incredible amount of time to the fairways and greens at Hartlepool Golf Club to develop my game.
I was fortunate to enjoy a successful amateur career. I won many tournaments at boys’ and men’s level, capped by winning the biggest prize of all: The British Amateur Championship at Royal County Down in 1999.
That got me to my first Open Championship and the US Masters the following year.
I also represented England as well as Great Britain & Ireland at every level during my amateur days including being on the winning Walker Cup team in 1999.
MY PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Since turning pro in April 2000 after playing the US Masters, I have gone on to win 4 times.
My first 2 victories where in 2004 whilst playing on the Challenge Tour. Winning the Wales Challenge, Morroccan Classic and finishing 3rd on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit propelled me back onto the European Tour. I have retained my card every year since.
My first victory on the European Tour came in 2007 at Le Golf National in Paris. This will always have a cherished place in my heart, having memorably won the Open de France. Beating a stella field with the likes of Montgomerie, Bjorn and many more in 2007 I celebrated my first European Tour triumph.I also made the GB & I team to play in the Seve Trophy that year. With Sir Nick Faldo as our captain we beat the European Team captained by Seve Ballesteros 16.5 – 11.5.
This year ended on a career high finishing 16th in the European Tour Order of Merit.
After 10 years of trying to clinch a second victory it finally came at the SA Open in January 2017. Going head to head on the final day with World Number 2 Rory McIlroy was a pleasure and a privilege. To then beat him in a sudden death play off that lasted 3 holes was memorable to say the least and has given me huge confidence. This is something I have managed to build on and hope to continue in the future.
BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENTS
- Winner of the 2017 BMW SA Open
- Winner of the 2007 Open de France ALSTOM
- Runner-up on 4 occasions - Omega European Masters, Johnnie Walker PGA Championship, European Open twice.
- Helped Great Britain & Ireland to win the Seve Trophy 2007 by beating Thomas Bjorn 7&5 in the singles
- A two-time winner on the Challenge Tour in 2004
- Finished third on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit in 2004
My first victory on the European Tour came in 2007 at Le Golf National in Paris. This will always have a cherished place in my heart, having memorably won the Open de France. Beating a stella field with the likes of Montgomerie, Bjorn and many more in 2007 I celebrated my first European Tour triumph.I also made the GB & I team to play in the Seve Trophy that year. With Sir Nick Faldo as our captain we beat the European Team captained by Seve Ballesteros 16.5 – 11.5.
This year ended on a career high finishing 16th in the European Tour Order of Merit.
After 10 years of trying to clinch a second victory it finally came at the SA Open in January 2017. Going head to head on the final day with World Number 2 Rory McIlroy was a pleasure and a privilege. To then beat him in a sudden death play off that lasted 3 holes was memorable to say the least and has given me huge confidence. This is something I have managed to build on and hope to continue in the future.
MY MAJOR AND WGC MEMORIES
Playing in Majors and World Golf Championships is what all golfers aspire to and I have been fortunate enough to play in all 4 Majors (The Open, US Open, US PGA & The Masters) and 2 WGC tournaments (Bridgestone and Doral).
In 2007 I competed in my first and only one to date US PGA, leading by 2 shots after the first round to a certain Mr John Daly. I then went on to finish 6th in the CA WGC in 2008 playing in the final round with Vijay Singh and eventual winner Geoff Ogilvy. My best finish in a major came at The Open at Royal Birkdale in 2008 finishing 38th.
After playing in 6 Opens, 2 US Opens, The Masters and the US PGA I will always strive to get back there as my career continues.
BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENTS
- Played in all four majors
- Had my mother, Jane, as my caddie at the US Masters in 2000 and she remains the only mum to date to have carried a player’s bag
- Appeared at The Open Championship in 1999, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011
- Appeared in two US Opens in 2006 and 2014
- Appeared in the USPGA Championship in 2007
- Played in two World Golf Championship events in 2007 and 2008 finishing sixth at the Cadillac World Championship.
In 2007 I competed in my first and only one to date US PGA, leading by 2 shots after the first round to a certain Mr John Daly. I then went on to finish 6th in the CA WGC in 2008 playing in the final round with Vijay Singh and eventual winner Geoff Ogilvy. My best finish in a major came at The Open at Royal Birkdale in 2008 finishing 38th.
After playing in 6 Opens, 2 US Opens, The Masters and the US PGA I will always strive to get back there as my career continues.
