Richard Sterne

Was born in Pretoria, South Africa. He was somewhat unusually introduced to the game by his grandmother at the age of four. His family is actively involved in sports; his father is involved in motor racing, his mother was a noted ice-skater and his sister was one of the top squash players in South Africa. He established himself by dominating South Africa's amateur scene, becoming the second South African (after Trevor Immelman) to win both the junior and senior national Stroke Play and Match Play titles. In 1999, he was runner up at the World Junior Golf Championship for the 15-17 Division. After turning pro in 2001 he went on to play in the 2002 European Challenge Tour, graduating to the European Tour in 2003. First European Tour victory came in the 2004 Open de Madrid, in his last event of the season, a win which ensured he avoided a trip to the Qualifying School. Showed his affinity for playing on home soil when he won the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek and the South African Open at Pearl Valley Golf Estates within the space of seven days in December 2008 to set the early pace in the inaugural Race to Dubai. Those victories helped him clinch the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit title. Missed most of the 2010 and 2011 seasons with a back injury.
2012 Notes: After missing 11 months due to injury, he returned to action at the European Tour's season-opener, the Africa Open finishing 6th. Was 6th again, in May, at the BMW PGA Championship. Looked poised to return to the winner's circle for the first time since 2008 at the ISPS Handa Wales Open at The Celtic Manor Resort. Ultimately couldn't overcome his opening, 2-over 73. Finished with rounds of 69-69-68 finishing T-2nd with three others, a shot behind winner Thongchai Jaidee.
2013 Notes: Played in 22 events winning the Joburg Open and finishing runner-up at the Dubai Desert Classic and French Open. Ended the year 8th in the Race to Dubai with 1,687,014 Euros.
2014 Notes: Again a struggle as he had surgery in December of 2013 to repair a torn labrum. Was able to return and play both WGC's events in February and March. After the Cadillac had more surgery to repair torn labrum forcing him to withdraw from the U.S. Open. Did return at the French Open finishing T-56th. Played a total of 17 events with two top-10 finishes, T-4th at the WGC-Cadillac Championship and T-6th at the Alfred Dunhill Links. Was 48th in the Race to Dubai. Was eligible for the Web.com Tour Finals by virtue of earning 252 FedExCup points as a non-member. Missed the cut in the first Finals' event, the Hotel Fitness Championship. Posted a T-41st the next week, at the Chiquita Classic. Fired rounds of 69 the first three days, only to climb to 77 Sunday. On the verge of winning for the first time in the U.S., held a three-shot lead with four holes to play at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship only to bogey three consecutive holes, beginning at No. 15. Fell into a tie with Justin Thomas. Lost in a one-hole playoff when Thomas dropped a wedge to 3 feet for a birdie. Once his PGA Tour card was secured opted to not play the season-ending Web.com Tour Championship and returned to South Africa.
2015 Notes: Played in 18 PGA Tour events making only one cut finishing T-39th at the AT&T Byron Nelson. Only played in 5 events on the European Tour, best finish was T-11th at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
2016 Notes: Back full time on the European Tour, played in 22 events making 18 cuts with six top-tens. Was T-10th at the Joburg Open, T-4th at the Tshwane Open, T-10th at the Irish Open and T-11th at the French Open. Two months later was T-10th in the Made in Denmark, then his best finish of the year, T-2nd at the Alfred Dunhill Links, shooting a final round 66 to finish 4 shots back of winner Tyrrell Hatton. His last top-ten was T-9th at the British Masters. Was 39th in the Race to Dubai with euro969,846 in earnings.
2017 Notes: Played in 22 European Tour events making 18 cuts with two top-tens. Open his year finishing 2nd at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Was T-9th at the Omega European Masters. Was 59th in the Race to Dubai.
2018 Notes: Played in 23 European Tour events making 20 cuts. Best finish T-14th Aberdeen Standard Scottish Open. Was 79th in the Race to Dubai. Sterne also ended his year 276th in the Official World Golf Rankings, his highest rankings since 2015.
2019 Notes: Was 2nd at the Abu Dhabi Championship a shot back of winner Shane Lowry. T-9th at the Trophee Hassan II.