History of Lee Westwood in Timeline

Lee Westwood is a highly accomplished English professional golfer notable for his global success, having secured victories on five continents across four decades. He's celebrated as a multiple-time European Tour Golfer of the Year (1998, 2000, 2009, 2020) and has won the European Tour Order of Merit (2000) and Race to Dubai (2009, 2020). Despite a distinguished career with wins on both the European Tour and PGA Tour, Westwood is also known for holding the record for the most major championship appearances without a victory, a fact that often places him among the best golfers never to have won a major.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

April 1973: Lee Westwood Born

In April 1973, Lee John Westwood was born. He is an English professional golfer.

Others born on this day/year

August 1989: Played for England in the Boys Home Internationals

In August 1989, Lee Westwood played for England in the Boys Home Internationals.

1990: Played in the Jacques Léglise Trophy

In 1990, Lee Westwood played for the Great Britain and Ireland boys team in the Jacques Léglise Trophy.

1991: Won the Peter McEvoy Trophy and played in the Jacques Léglise Trophy

In 1991, Lee Westwood won his first important amateur tournament, the Peter McEvoy Trophy. He also played for Great Britain and Ireland boys team in the Jacques Léglise Trophy for the second time.

1993: Won British Youths Open Amateur Championship and Turned Professional

In 1993, Lee Westwood won the British Youths Open Amateur Championship and subsequently turned professional.

1994: Nick Faldo Ranked World Number One

In 1994, Nick Faldo was the last British golfer before Lee Westwood in 2010 to hold the world number one position.

1996: First Professional Tournament Wins

In 1996, Lee Westwood won his first professional tournament, the Volvo Scandinavian Masters, followed by the Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters in Japan.

1997: Continued Success

In 1997, Lee Westwood continued his success by defending his Japanese title and winning the Malaysian Open, the Volvo Masters in Spain, and the Holden Australian Open, beating Greg Norman in a playoff. He also partnered with Nick Faldo in the Ryder Cup that year.

1997: Ryder Cup Debut

In 1997, Lee Westwood made his Ryder Cup debut, partnering with Nick Faldo in both sets of fourballs and foursomes.

July 1998: Reached Top 10 in Official World Golf Ranking

In July 1998, Lee Westwood reached the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time.

1998: European Tour Golfer of the Year

In 1998, Lee Westwood was named the European Tour Golfer of the Year.

January 1999: Marriage to Laurae Coltart

In January 1999, Lee Westwood married Laurae Coltart, the sister of Scottish Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart.

1999: Ryder Cup Partnership with Darren Clarke

In the 1999 Ryder Cup, Lee Westwood partnered with Darren Clarke for the fourballs and foursomes, earning 2 points.

2000: Most Successful Year to Date

In 2000, Lee Westwood had his most successful year to date, winning seven tournaments worldwide and was ranked first on the European Order of Merit, ending Colin Montgomerie's long run of European Tour dominance. His win on the Sunshine Tour's Dimension Data Pro-am in 2000 made him the first golfer to win events on all 6 of the International Federation of PGA Tours.

2000: Previous Win in 2000

In 2000, Lee Westwood had one of his previous wins at the Gary Player Country Club, also winning the Dimension Data Pro-Am.

2000: European Tour Order of Merit

In 2000, Lee Westwood won the European Tour Order of Merit and was named European Tour Golfer of the Year again.

August 2001: Continued stay in Top 10

Up until August 2001, Lee Westwood spent a total of 160 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking since first reaching the top 10 in July 1998.

2001: Took a break following son Samuel Bevan's birth

In 2001, Lee Westwood took a significant break from the game following the birth of his son, Samuel Bevan.

2002: Ryder Cup Partnership with Sergio García

At The Belfry in 2002, Lee Westwood teamed up with Sergio García in the Ryder Cup, winning 3 and losing 1 of their four matches.

2002: Dropped out of Top 100

In 2002, Lee Westwood dropped out of the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

2003: Victory in Germany

In 2003, Lee Westwood secured a victory in Germany, marking his 25th worldwide.

2003: Returned to Top 100

In late 2003, Lee Westwood returned to the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

2004: Ranking in 20 to 80 Range

In 2004, Lee Westwood's ranking remained in the 20 to 80 range in the Official World Golf Ranking.

2004: Ryder Cup Victory and First Singles Victory

In the 2004 Ryder Cup, Lee Westwood sank the putt which secured Europe's points tally to 14, ensuring they retained the Cup. Europe eventually won 18½–9½, and it was his first victory in singles. He also achieved the feat of not losing a game.

2005: Ernie Els joined Westwood on the list of golfers winning events on all 6 of the International Federation of PGA Tours

In 2005, Ernie Els joined Lee Westwood on the list of golfers to have won events on all 6 of the International Federation of PGA Tours.

April 2006: Co-ownership of Private Jet

From April 2006, Lee Westwood co-owned a private jet with fellow Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke.

2006: Ryder Cup Selection and Undefeated Performance

Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke were the wildcard selections in the 2006 Ryder Cup, with Westwood justifying his selection by not losing a game, a feat he had also achieved in 2004.

2007: Return to Winners Circle

In 2007, Lee Westwood returned to the winner's circle by winning both the Valle Romano Open de Andalucía and the Quinn Direct British Masters, bringing his total European Tour wins to 18. As a result, he moved back into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

2007: Honorary Degree from Nottingham Trent University

In 2007, Lee Westwood was presented with an Honorary degree of Doctor of Science by Nottingham Trent University.

2007: Ranking in 20 to 80 Range

In 2007, Lee Westwood's ranking remained in the 20 to 80 range in the Official World Golf Ranking.

2008: Sat Out First Ryder Cup Session

During the 2008 Ryder Cup matches, Lee Westwood sat out for the first session in his Ryder Cup career after a controversial decision by captain Nick Faldo. The European Team ended up losing to the U.S. 16½–11½.

2008: Return to Top 20

Early in 2008, Lee Westwood returned to the top 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking and remained there since. He returned to the top 10 briefly at the end of the 2008 season.

2008: Continued Strong Performance

In 2008, Lee Westwood continued his strong performance, starting the season with two tied second places and a fifth, moving back into the top 20 in the world rankings. At the Masters, Westwood finished tied for 11th and he narrowly missed out on becoming the first European in 38 years to win the U.S. Open, finishing 3rd on level-par.

2008: First losing team since 2008

In 2016, Lee Westwood was part of a losing team for the first time since 2008.

October 2009: Portugal Masters Win

In October 2009, Lee Westwood ended his two-year wait for a tournament win by winning the Portugal Masters. This was followed the next month with a win at the Dubai World Championship, which also brought with it the inaugural Race to Dubai title.

2009: Return to Top 10

After the 2009 PGA Championship, Lee Westwood returned to the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

2009: Race to Dubai and European Tour Golfer of the Year

In 2009, Lee Westwood won the renamed Race to Dubai and was named European Tour Golfer of the Year again.

October 2010: Becomes World Number One

In October 2010, Lee Westwood became the world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking, ending Tiger Woods' reign. He became the first British golfer since Nick Faldo in 1994 to hold that position.

October 2010: Won the 2010 Ryder Cup

In October 2010, Lee Westwood was a member of the European team that won the 2010 Ryder Cup with a one-point win over the USA.

October 2010: University Sports Hall Naming

In October 2010, Nottingham Trent University named its sports hall after the golfer, Lee Westwood.

2010: Second Place Finishes at Masters and Open Championship

In 2010, Lee Westwood earned a career-best second place at the Masters Tournament, leading into the final day. He then came through with his 2nd tour victory at the St. Jude Classic the week before the U.S. Open. Westwood also claimed another second-place finish at the Open Championship, finishing as a distant runner-up to Louis Oosthuizen. He did not compete in the PGA Championship due to injury.

2010: Previous Win in 2010

In 2010, Lee Westwood had one of his previous wins at the Gary Player Country Club.

2010: Mention of the 2010 Masters

In 2010, Lee Westwood led into the final round of a major championship and the Masters, which Phil Mickelson won.

April 2011: Regained World Number One Spot

On April 24, 2011, Lee Westwood regained the World number one spot after winning the Indonesian Masters and held it for 5 weeks.

May 2011: Playoff Loss at BMW PGA Championship

In May 2011, Lee Westwood contested a playoff at the BMW PGA Championship with Luke Donald. Donald won the championship and became the new world number one after Westwood hit his approach shot into a water hazard on the 18th.

June 2011: Tied Third at U.S. Open

In June 2011, Lee Westwood equalled his best performance at the U.S. Open, finishing in a tie for third place at Congressional CC.

December 2011: Victory at Thailand Golf Championship

In December 2011, Lee Westwood shot the lowest round of his career, a 60, at the Thailand Golf Championship. He won the tournament by seven shots.

2011: Previous Win in 2011

In 2011, Lee Westwood had one of his previous wins at the Gary Player Country Club.

February 2012: Best Performance at WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship

In February 2012, Lee Westwood recorded his best ever performance at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, reaching the semi-finals for the first time. He finished in 4th place after losing the consolation match to American Mark Wilson.

April 2012: Tied Third at the Masters and Defended Indonesian Masters Title

In April 2012, Lee Westwood finished tied third at the Masters. He also successfully defended his title at the Indonesian Masters on the Asian Tour.

June 2012: Won the Nordea Masters

In June 2012, Lee Westwood won the Nordea Masters for the third time, with a five stroke victory over Ross Fisher. This was Westwood's 22nd victory on the European Tour.

2012: Ryder Cup Victory

In 2012, Lee Westwood was a member of the winning team in the Ryder Cup, with Europe beating USA at Medinah Country Club.

2012: U.S. Open

In 2012, during the final round of the U.S. Open, Lee Westwood lost his ball in a tree, resulting in a double-bogey and ending his challenge. He finished in a tie for 10th.

2013: Best Finish at the Open Since 2013

In 2013, Lee Westwood had his best finish at the Open before finishing tied for fourth in 2019.

2013: Third Place Finish at the Open Championship

In 2013, Lee Westwood led the Open Championship after 54 holes but shot a four-over-par 75 in his final round to finish in a tie for third place.

2014: Previous Win in 2014

In 2014, Lee Westwood had his previous win before the Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Malaysian Open.

2014: Ryder Cup Victory

In 2014, Lee Westwood was once again a member of the winning team in the Ryder Cup, with Europe beating USA at Gleneagles.

April 2015: Won CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters

In April 2015, Lee Westwood won the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters for the third time in his career in a sudden-death playoff.

2016: Runner-Up Finish at the Masters

In 2016, Lee Westwood finished joint runner-up with Jordan Spieth at the Masters, three strokes behind winner Danny Willett. He also finished T32 at the 2016 U.S. Open.

2016: Best Result on the PGA Tour Since 2016 Masters

In 2016, Lee Westwood had his previous best result on the PGA Tour at the Masters, where he tied for second place.

2016: Ryder Cup Selection as a Wildcard

In 2016, Lee Westwood was chosen as a wildcard for the Ryder Cup team captained by his friend Darren Clarke, but was part of a losing team for the first time since 2008.

November 2017: Discussed Golf Course Design Aspirations

In November 2017, Lee Westwood spoke of his desire to go into the golf course design industry once he had finished playing, aiming to make courses "more playable and enjoyable".

2017: Justin Rose joined Westwood on the list of golfers winning events on all 6 of the International Federation of PGA Tours

In 2017, Justin Rose joined Lee Westwood on the list of golfers to have won events on all 6 of the International Federation of PGA Tours.

2017: Divorce from Laurae Coltart

In 2017, Lee Westwood and Laurae Coltart divorced. After his divorce, Westwood moved back to Europe from his residence in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

November 2018: Won the Nedbank Golf Challenge

On 11 November 2018, Lee Westwood won the Nedbank Golf Challenge by three shots, claiming his 24th European Tour victory. The victory was worth $1,250,000.

2018: Selected as Ryder Cup Vice-Captain

In 2018, Thomas Bjørn selected Lee Westwood as one of his five vice-captains for the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National, alongside Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald, Pádraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson.

July 2019: Finished Tied for Fourth in the Open Championship

In July 2019, Lee Westwood finished tied for fourth in the Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland.

January 2020: Won Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

In January 2020, Lee Westwood won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the European Tour, marking titles in four different decades. He finished on 19 under par.

2020: Earned Entry into the 2020 Masters Tournament

In 2020, Lee Westwood earned entry into the Masters Tournament.

2020: Race to Dubai and European Tour Golfer of the Year

In 2020, Lee Westwood won the Race to Dubai and was named European Tour Golfer of the Year for the fourth time.

March 2021: Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship

In March 2021, Lee Westwood held the 54-hole lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, missing out by one shot. The following week, he held the 54-hole lead at The Players Championship, finishing second by one shot.

June 2021: Marriage to Helen Storey

In June 2021, Lee Westwood married Helen Storey in Las Vegas. Helen also caddies for him on tour.

September 2021: Played in the 2021 Ryder Cup

In September 2021, Lee Westwood played on the European team in the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. The U.S. team won 19–9, and Westwood went 1–2–0, including a win in his Sunday singles match against Harris English.

2021: Most Major Championship Appearances Without Winning

In 2021, Lee Westwood holds the record for most major championship appearances without winning, surpassing Jay Haas at the Open Championship, his 88th major.