One of the longest drivers in the world, leading the European Tour in driving distance in 2007, 2008 and 2009, including a 314-plus-yard average in 2009. 2011: Closed the season sixth on the Race to Dubai standings. After finishing a distant second at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, four strokes behind Thomas Bjorn, he came back the following week at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and won on the European Tour for the fifth time in his career. In the final round at Emirates GC, he survived a triple bogey on the eighth hole, made a hole-in-one three holes later and then held off Anders Hansen and James Kingston by a stroke. The victory marked the fifth consecutive season he was won a European Tour title.

Shared the first-round lead at the Masters Tournament with Rory McIlroy after firing a 7-under 65 and finished T27.

Posted his second career top 10 and equaled his best result on the PGA TOUR, with a T6 at THE PLAYERS in just his second start at TPC Sawgrass.

Had his another European Tour top five when he T5 at the Volvo World Match Play Championship.

Appeared in his first OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup, playing with Miguel Angel Jimenez. Spain rallied to a final-round 67 in foursomes to jump into the top 10, with a T9.

A week later, he entered the final round of the UBS Hong Kong Open with a one-stroke lead over Peter Hanson. He struggled on the final day at Hong Kong GC, shooting a 3-over 73 to T7.

Putting his disappointment in Hong Kong behind him, he took the halfway lead a week later at the Dubai World Championships, shot 70-67 on the weekend and won for the second time in Dubai in 10 months. It was his sixth European Tour title. 2010: In his 14th start on the PGA TOUR, earned his first career top-10, with a T6 finish at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship. Led the field with a 316.9-yard driving distance average at Doral.

Beat rookie James Morrison with a par on the first playoff hole to win the Open de Espana on the European Tour.