Began the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship two strokes behind the leaders, Robert Rock and Tiger Woods, and finished solo second, one shot behind winner Rock. Suffered a setback in the second round when he brushed sand away from his path, sand that was not on the putting surface at Abu Dhabi GC that led to a two-stroke penalty.

Went into the weekend of the Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour tied for the top spot with Thomas Bjorn. Struggled to a 72-71 finish at Emirates GC to fall to T5.

In his first PGA TOUR start of the year, advanced to the finals of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship before falling to Hunter Mahan, 2 and 1. Road to the finals included victories over George Coetzee, Anders Hansen, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Sang-Moon Bae and a 3-and-1 semifinals victory over Lee Westwood. The championship match pairing marked the first time two players in their 20s met to decide the Accenture Match Play Championship. Runner-up finish marked his best result in the event in four starts, bettering a T5 in 2009. Fell 3-down in his semifinal match to Westwood through four holes but reeled off six birdies from Nos. 6-13 to build a 3-up lead.

A week later, at The Honda Classic, was one of just two players to post four-consecutive rounds in the 60s as he overtook the world's No. 1 ranking from Luke Donald with a convincing two-stroke win over Tiger Woods and Tom Gillis. With the victory, his third on the PGA TOUR, he became the second-youngest player to achieve the world's top spot. Only Woods was younger. The win also made him the fifth consecutive international winner of The Honda Classic. Shortly after his winner's press-room interview, he boarded a plane with professional tennis star girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki to travel to New York to watch her compete in an exhibition match against Maria Sharapova in Madison Square Garden the following day.

Following a third-round 65, made another charge Sunday at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship (standing at 6-under on the day through 12 holes), but bogeys on Nos. 14 and 18 left him with a 5-under 67 and solo-third. In three TOUR starts this season, owns a win (The Honda Classic), runner-up finish (World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship) and third-place finish (Cadillac Championship) and as a result captured the lead in the FedExCup points race.

2011: Finished the year second in the Race to Dubai, a little more than €1 million behind Luke Donald.

Won his first major in record-setting fashion by eight shots at the U.S. Open at Congressional CC. At 22 years, 1 month, 15 days, he is the ninth-youngest winner of the U.S. Open and the youngest to win the event since Bobby Jones in 1923. He is the first player in U.S. Open history to get to double-digits under-par in the first two rounds. He is the first player in U.S. Open history to reach 13-under par, 14-under par, 15-under par, 16-under par and 17-under par. Set the 36-hole tournament scoring record (131), the 54-hole tournament record (199), and the 72-hole scoring record (268). His six-stroke, 36-hole lead tied Tiger Woods (2000) for the largest at the U.S. Open, while his eight-stroke, 54-hole lead is the second-largest in U.S. Open history behind Woods' 10 strokes in 2000. Set the low first 36-hole score in relation to par at 11-under. Woods (2000) and Ricky Barnes (2009) are tied for second, at 8-under. He also set the low first 54-hole score in relation to par at the U.S. Open (14-under). His 16-under is the most strokes under-par for 72 holes in U.S. Open history. Woods set the old record of 12-under in 2000. Becomes the seventh wire-to-wire (no ties) winner at the U.S. Open, joining Woods (2000 and 20002), Tony Jacklin (1970), Ben Hogan (1953), James Barnes (1921) and Walter Hagen (1914). Is the first player to win the U.S. Open with all four rounds in the 60s since Lee Janzen (1993). The last time the U.S. Open saw back-to-back winners from the British Isles was in 1924 (Cyril Walker, England) and 1925 (William Mcfarlane, Scotland). Last year, Graeme McDowell was the first player from Northern Ireland to win the U.S. Open. He followed a year later, joining his good friend as Northern Ireland champions. The duo also became the first back-to-back winners of the U.S. Open from the same country (outside of the U.S.) since England in 1920 (Edward Ray) and 1921 (Barnes). Woods (2008) and Lucas Glover (2009) were the last back-to-back winners from the U.S. Is one of nine players age 22 and younger with multiple wins with at least one of the wins a major championship. The others are Woods, Gene Sarazen, Tom Morris, Jr., Jack Nicklaus, Tom Creavy, Johnny McDermott, Seve Ballesteros and Jerry Pate.

Was a distant second at the Abu Dhabi Championship on the European Tour, eight strokes behind Martin Kaymer. His runner-up showing in the United Arab Emirates came a year after he T3 at the same event, two strokes back of Kaymer.

After three rounds in the 60s, entered the final round of the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship three strokes behind Dustin Johnson but struggled to a 2-over 74 to finish well behind champion Nick Watney. Finished T10 for his best finish in three starts at the event.

Had a third-place showing at the Maybank Malaysian Open.

Was fifth at the Memorial Tournament for his second top 10 at the event in as many starts (T10 in 2010). Held the first-round co-lead with Chris Riley, at 6-under 66.

Finished T6 at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational with all four rounds in the 60s. It was his second consecutive season with all four rounds in the 60s at Firestone CC.

Added another top-five on the European Tour, finishing T3 at the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre. Shot four rounds in the 60s, including an opening-round 65 in Switzerland but still fell five strokes shy of winner Thomas Bjorn.

Contended all week in Hilversum, Netherlands, at the KLM Open before finally finishing third, two strokes behind winner Simon Dyson. Began the final round at Hilversum GC in eighth place, but a Sunday 67 moved him up.

Finished a distant second to Rickie Fowler in October at the Kolon Korea Open on the OneAsia Tour.

Picked up his second victory of the campaign when he won the Shanghai Masters in China. Finished regulation tied with Anthony Kim and then defeated Kim by making par on the first playoff hole at Lake Malaren's Masters Course. The win was worth $2 million, the largest payday of his career.

A week later, also in Shanghai, at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, he had four under-par rounds, including a third-round 65, that led to a T4.

Represented Ireland in the World Cup for the second consecutive time, again teaming with Graeme McDowell. Took a third-round lead into the final round at Mission Hills GC's Blackstone Course, but the duo faltered to an even-par 72 in foursomes Sunday to T4.

In early December, at the UBS Hong Kong Open, a tournament he says he's always wanted to win, he came from three strokes off the pace on the final day to capture first title after finishing second at the tournament in 2008 and 2009. Playing in the third-to-last group, he holed out from the right bunker for birdie on the 18th hole, his fifth birdie of the day against no bogeys, to ensure the victory. The day before, he shot an even-par 70 marking the first time in 15 rounds that he hadn't shot a round in the 60s at Hong Kong GC. 2010: Rookie season highlighted by an electric, final-round 62 at the Quail Hollow Championship en route to first PGA TOUR victory. Posted T3 finishes at the British Open and PGA Championship and was a member of the victorious European Ryder Cup squad.

Shot a final-round 10-under 62 to claim his first TOUR win by four strokes over Phil Mickelson at the Quail Hollow Championship. Eagled the par-5 seventh hole (his 16th hole of the day) in the second round to help make the cut on the number, becoming the first player to win after making the cut on the number since Chris Couch at the 2006 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Final-round, 10-under 62 set the course record and was the lowest-finishing score by a winner since Brad Faxon's 61 at the 2005 Buick Championship. It was the lowest in relation to par since Ryan Palmer shot the same score to win the 2004 FUNAI Classic at Walt Disney World Resort. Became the third consecutive player in his 20s to win the Quail Hollow Championship (Anthony Kim in 2008 and Sean O'Hair in 2009). At age 20 years, 11 months, 28 days is the youngest winner of the event. With a 16-under 128, posted the lowest final 36-hole score at the tournament by seven strokes (previous mark of 135 owned by four players, most recently Steve Stricker in 2007). Recorded 25 birdies, tied with Vijay Singh (2003) for most in tournament history. Finished the tournament eagle-birdie-par-birdie and tied the back-nine record at Quail Hollow with a 6-under 30 Sunday (Sergio Garcia, first round, 2005, Retief Goosen, third round, 2005). Came from four strokes back on the last day to win. Became the 20th-youngest winner in PGA TOUR history.

Finished T10 in his first career start at the Memorial Tournament.

Opened the British Open with a record-tying 9-under 63, the 24th time the score had been posted in a Major Championship and the eighth time at the British Open. Went on to finish T3, equaling his best finish in a Major (T3-2009 PGA Championship).

One of just two players in the field at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational to post all four rounds in the 60s (68-69-69-69), finishing T9.

.Kept the heat on a week later at Whistling Straits by finishing T3, one shot out of the Kaymer-Watson playoff at the PGA Championship for third top-3 in last five major starts. One of eight players with two or more top-10s in majors in 2010. The T3 equalled best of eight previous major starts (T3 at the 2010 British Open, T3 at the 2009 PGA Championship).

Finished 36th in the FedExCup standings to just miss qualifying for THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

Finished 1-1-2 in his first Ryder Cup appearance. Earned a crucial half point when he halved his singles match with Stewart Cink as the European team went on to victory.

In November, returned to Sheshan International GC for the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, where he finished fourth in 2009. Broke a string of 1-under 71s in the first three rounds in 2010 with a final-round, 5-under 67 to finish fifth.

In mid-November, again contended at the UBS Hong Kong Open, where he had finished runner-up in both 2008 and 2009. Opened with a 7-under 63 at Hong Kong GC and eventually was solo sixth, five strokes behind Ian Poulter.

Added a solo fifth the following week at the Dubai World Championship and was 13th in the Race to Dubai. 2009: Placed in the top 125 on the PGA TOUR non-member money list. Announced he would join the PGA TOUR in November. Made 11 starts on the PGA TOUR and won his first professional title, at the Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour by one stroke over Justin Rose. Carded a final-round, 2-under-par 70 to finish at 19-under and complete a wire-to-wire victory at Emirates GC.

Came close to a second title, in November 2008 at the beginning of the European Tour season when he forced a playoff at the UBS Hong Kong Open before losing a thrilling extra session to Taiwan's Lin Wen-Tang.

Finished second behind Lee Westwood in the European Tour order of merit.

Making his first start on the PGA TOUR as a professional, lost 2 and 1 to eventual winner Geoff Ogilvy in quarterfinals of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, earning a T5.

Posted top-20 finishes in three of four major championship appearances, including a PGA TOUR career-best T3 at the PGA Championship, five strokes behind winner Y.E. Yang. Finished T20 at the Masters and T10 at the U.S. Open. Shot a final-round 68 at Bethpage Black to move into the top 10. Placed T47 at the British Open.

Only missed cut in 11 PGA TOUR starts came at THE PLAYERS Championship.

Late in the season, had a runner-up finish for the second consecutive year at the UBS Hong Kong Open followed by another runner-up finish at the OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup, representing Ireland and playing with Graeme McDowell. Dropped team event by a stroke to Italy (Francesco and Edoardo Molinari). 2008: A year after turning pro, had a successful season on the European Tour, with six top-10s, including a second at the Omega European Masters, where he lost in a playoff in Switzerland to Jean-Francois Lucquin.

Was seventh at the Irish Open, and finished his season with three top-10s in his final four starts, at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (T8), Castello Masters Costa Azahar (T9) and Portugal Masters (10th). 2007: Turned pro on September 18 at age 18 after a stellar amateur career where he was the world's top-ranked amateur.

Caught the public's attention with a 3-under 68 in the first round of the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie, the only bogey-free round of the day. Finished T42 and was the low amateur.

Turned professional after representing Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup.

Made the cut in his first professional event at The Quinn Direct British Masters and finished third in his second professional event, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, earning enough money to assure his place in the top 115 to become the youngest and quickest affiliate member to secure his European Tour card, in just two events.

Finished T4 in his third event, the Open de Madrid Valle Romano. Amateur: Played his first professional event as a 16 year old in 2005 at The Belfry.

Shot a course-record 61 at Royal Portrush GC in 2005.

Represented Europe on the winning Junior Ryder Cup team in 2004, before becoming the youngest winner of the West of Ireland and Irish Close Championships in 2005.

Recorded a 40-yard drive at age 2 and made his first ace at age 9.

Left school at age 16 to concentrate on amateur golf.

Cites Tiger Woods as his golf inspiration.