Nationality : Ireland
As one of the most popular players on the European Tour, 32-year-old Graeme McDowell has managed to make a name for himself among the biggest competitors in golf and will probably be regarded as one of the best players in the world for a long time.
During his professional career, which dates back nearly a decade, the Northern Irishman has enjoyed six wins in his home continent, where he has beat off big names including Trevor Immelman, Rhys Davies and James Kingston to take a series of coveted crowns.
McDowell's most notable victory came at the 2010 US Open, where he kept his cool in a field dominated by the likes of Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson before tapping in from just 12 inches to join the list of Pebble Beach champions.
"It just feels like a dream to join that sort of company," he commented following his win. "I don't think this will ever sink in and it might be a while before I'm sober."
US professional Johnson sacrificed his third-round lead by playing the first three holes of the final day in a shocking five-over-par, as a triple-bogey seven on the second hole and a double-bogey on the third highlighted the effect nerves can have on even the best players.
Despite his victory, McDowell looked to be letting slip on the final ten greens by dropping shots to ensure a nerve-shredding finish, but mistakes from Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson and Woods himself saw him catapulted to the finish line.
Born in Portrush, Northern Ireland in 1979, the talented professional showed an interest in golf from an early age - playing at the Rathmore Golf Club when he was just eight. McDowell went on to compete for the facility's senior team at 14 under the wing of his uncle and coach Uel Loughery.
Attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1998, he became the recipient of the Haskins Award - which is given to the most outstanding collegiate golfer in the US - while triumphing at a staggering six out of 12 events that season.
Another of McDowell's proudest moments came in 2010, when he was charged with putting the winning shot on the 17th green to take the crown at that year's Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor against opponent Hunter Mahan.
Just this week, the 12th ranked player in the world confirmed he will tee off on the Redstone Golf Club Tournament Course on March 28th as he competes against Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Simon Dyson in the 2012 Shell Houston Open.
Career Wins
2010 – Chevron World Challenge (Sherwood County Club)
2010 - Andalucía Valderrama Masters (Valderrama Golf Club)
2010 - US OPEN (Pebble Beach)
2010 - Wales open (Celtic Manor)
2008 – Scottish Open (Loch Lomond)
2008 - Ballentines Championship
2004 – Italian Open
2002 – Scandinavian Masters