Full Name: Lee John Westwood
Date of Birth: April 24th, 1973
Place of Birth: Worksop, England
Nationality: English
Height: 6ft 0in
Turned Professional: 1993
Photo of Lee Westwood by Eugene Goh
First Major Achievement
Perhaps it is all down to the title that started it all off for Lee Westwood in his professional career. That breakthrough victory, three years after turning professional as a PGA member, came at the Volvo Scandinavian Masters in 1996. After finishing seven under in the tournament, he won via a play-off against Paul Broadhurst and Russell Claydon. That was the first of many titles to come for Westwood, one of the most successful players ever on the European Tour.
Other Career Successes
Along with securing many wins during his professional time on the European PGA Tour, Lee Westwood also has an outstanding record in Ryder Cup appearances. Out of his first eight Ryder Cup appearances, Westwood was only on the losing side twice in the golfing duels against the USA.
Following his professional career breakthrough win in 1996, Westwood started climbing the ranks of golf quickly and he achieved the honour of being named golf’s European Player of the Year on three separate occasions in 1998, 2000 and in 2009.
It was on the back of his most successful season ever on the European Tour, in the year 2000 when he won seven tournaments across the world, that Lee Westwood claimed the honour of winning the European Tour Order of Merit for the first time in his career. It was a feat that he would repeat almost a decade later.
He capped off his high status in the game by finally landing the number one ranking in the world late in the year of 2010. It was a position which the Englishman held for 22 consecutive weeks.
For his services to golf, Lee Westwood was awarded the OBE by the Queen in the 2012 as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
