Opened with a 2-over 75 at the Volvo Golf Champions in South Africa but recovered nicely to finish solo fifth at The Links of Fancourt.

A week after a T17 at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, competed in his second Honda Classic, where he finished T5 with Justin Rose. It was his first stroke-play start of the season on TOUR. With 56 of 72 greens hit in regulation hit (77.8 percent), he led the field in that category for the week.

Equaled his second-best finish in 15 starts in a World Golf Championships event with a T4 at the Cadillac Championship, second only to a runner-up finish at the 2010 Cadillac Championship. Four under-par rounds led a 13-under finish, three strokes behind champion Justin Rose.

2011: Won his first major at the Masters, while making the cut in all 15 of his starts on TOUR. Had 10 top-25 finishes and three top-10s. Finished 32nd in the FedExCup to just miss a trip to the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. Was fourth in the Race to Dubai standings on the European Tour.

Fifty years after fellow countryman Gary Player became the first international winner of the green jacket, capped off a final-round, 6-under 66 and a two-stroke victory at the 75th Masters Tournament over Aussies Jason Day and Adam Scott. Became the first Masters winner to birdie the final four holes, and the first to play the final four holes in 4-under since Jack Nicklaus (eagle-birdie-birdie-par) did so 25 years earlier in 1986. Became the seventh major championship winner from South Africa and the third to win the Masters, joining Gary Player (1961, 1974 and 1978) and Trevor Immelman (2008). Entered the final round four strokes behind Rory McIlroy and then turned in the largest come-from-behind win at the Masters since Nick Faldo came from six down to defeat Greg Norman in 1996, coming out on top on a day where as many as five players shared the lead at one point. Is just the second champion in the last 21 years to win the Masters without playing in the final pairing, joining Zach Johnson in 2007. Winning score of 14-under 274 is the lowest by an international champion at the Masters and equals the sixth lowest of all time.

Shot a final-round 67 to roll to a four-stroke win over fellow South African Garth Mulroy at the Joburg Open. With the win, he became only the third South African to successfully defend a European Tour title, joining Ernie Els and Trevor Immelman.

Opened his season in his native South Africa with a T4 at the Africa Open in East London. Shot a final-round 70 at East London GC to finish one stroke out of the three-man playoff between Louis Oosthuizen, Manuel Quiros and Chris Wood, an extra session Oosthuizen won.

Finished T9 at the U.S. Open, with a final round 66. Posted back-to-back top 10s in majors after going without one in his first 16 major starts. Finished T16 at the 2010 U.S. Open.

In his first start at the RBC Canadian Open at difficult Shaughnessy G&CC, finished T9 with Spencer Levin, Patrick Cantlay and John Daly. It was his second consecutive top-10 finish in a national Open.

Held a share of the second-round lead with Adam Scott and Bubba Watson at the Deutsche Bank Championship before rounds of 72-73 led to a T21 finish.

After opening with a 2-under 70 at Sheshan International GC in Shanghai, China, he shot three consecutive sub-70 rounds (69-69-65) to T4 at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in November.

One of four rookies on the International Presidents Cup team, he recorded record of 3-1-1 in losing cause.

In South Africa in early December, he fired a 6-under 282 to solo sixth at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

Tried to make a late charge at the Thailand Golf Championship but couldn't overcome Lee Westwood's big lead and eventually finished solo second, seven strokes back. 2010: Played in 11 PGA TOUR events, with nine made cuts and three top-10 finishes.

Made second consecutive appearance at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. Finished T9, losing to Stewart Cink in 19 holes in the third round.

Battled countryman Ernie Els at the World Golf Championships-CA Championships at TPC Blue Monster, finishing second. Was one stroke behind Els in the final round when Els made a 25-foot par putt on the 14th hole to retain the lead. Made bogeys on 15 and 17 to fall farther behind. Had taken part in Els' junior program in South Africa as a youngster and was staying at Els' home during the week.

Joined the PGA TOUR as a Special Temporary Member on March 23.

Continued his good play at Shell Houston Open the week before the Masters, posting a pair of 67s on the weekend for a T3 finish while playing on a sponsor's exemption.

Shot a final-round 67 in early January to win the Africa Open in South Africa on the European Tour. Finished at 20-under par to top third-round co-leader Thomas Aiken by one stroke.