Trevor Immelman

This South African followed in the footsteps of his older golf-teaching brother, Mark, who has always been his coach. Began playing golf at age 5, was a scratch golfer at age 12, and played the African Junior Golf Association Tour from age 13 to 17. In 1996, made the South African team at age 17 and played in the Eisenhower Trophy in Chile. Won the 1996 Junior PGA Championship. In 1997, he lost in three finals: the British Amateur at Royal St. George's, the New Zealand Amateur, and the U.S. Junior, where he was defeated by Jason Allred 1-up. Won the 1998 U.S. Amateur Public Links, defeating Jason Dufner, 3 & 2.
Immelman's first professional win came at the 2000 Vodacom Players Championship in his native South Africa. Immelman is a natural left-hander, but he plays right-handed. His victory at the 2003 South African Airways Open was emotional because it came in front of friends and family at Erinvale Golf Club, where he learned the game. Played on the European Tour between 2001-'05. At the same time, he also played in some events on the PGA Tour and in 2005 won enough money to earn temporary membership. Became a full-time member in 2006. Won the Cialis Western Open that year and earned PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors. Was the first rookie since Jerry Pate (1976) to finish 10th or better on the money list. Withdrew from the 2006 British Open for the birth of his first child, Jacob Trevor.
Immelman has experienced numerous medical issues. In 2007, he won the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa in December, and a week later underwent surgery to remove a benign tumor from behind his rib cage. Returned to the PGA Tour at the Phoenix Open in early February 2008 and struggled until claiming his first major title with a three-stroke victory over Tiger Woods at the Masters. He became only the second South African, after his mentor and role model Gary Player, to win at Augusta National.
Was a member of the 2005 and 2007 Presidents Cup teams.
In 2009, was limited to 13 events on the PGA Tour because of a wrist injury.
2010 Notes: Was unable to record a top-10 and missed 10 of 19 cuts as he continued to work back from 2009 wrist surgery. Best result was T-13th at the RBC Canadian Open. Finished 156th in the FedExCup standings and 163rd on the money list.
2011 Notes: Bounced back with a solid year. Ended the season with his two best finishes, 5th at the McGladrey Classic and T-6th at the Children's Miracle Network. Finished 88th in the FedExCup standings and 81st on the money list.
2012 Notes: Did not record a top-10 finish (his best finish was a T-11th at the Arnold Palmer) for the third time in the last eight seasons. Made 13 of 24 cuts to finish 117th in the final FedExCup standings and 129th on the money list.
2013 Notes: Made the cut in only half of his 24 starts on the PGA Tour. Since he ranked 143rd on the FedExCup list and 155th on the money list, he had to play in the inaugural Korn Ferry Tour Finals. He won the first event, the Hotel Fitness Championship, by sinking a 16-foot putt for birdie at the final hole for a one-stroke victory. Missed the cut in the final three events but still got his PGA Tour card back for 2014.
2014 Notes: Made 13 cuts in 28 PGA Tour starts, highlighted by three top-25 finishes (his best was T-10th at Farmers Insurance). Ended the season ranked No. 145 in the FedExCup standings. Was unable to regain exempt status for the 2014-15 PGA Tour Season via the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Finished T-63rd in the first Korn Ferry Tour Finals event at the Hotel Fitness Championship. Withdrew from the Chiquita Classic the following week and did not play again.
2015 Notes: Failed to record a top-25 finish for the first time in a full season on the PGA Tour, with T-32nd at the Barbasol Championship marking his best performance. Finished the year 204th in the FedExCup standings.
2016 Notes: Made two cuts in 11 PGA Tour starts, advancing to the weekend at the Puerto Rico Open at Coco Beach (T-62nd) and Wells Fargo Championship (T-71st) while finishing 239rd in FedExCup standings.
2017 Notes: In 14 starts around the world, only played on the weekend once, finishing T-19th at the Tshwane Open.
2018 Notes: Played 13 European Tour events, the most he has played in Europe since 2005. Made nine cuts and finished 77th in the Race to Dubai. Had his first top-10 finish since 2014 with a T-3rd at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.
2019 Notes: Played in 16 European Tour events making seven cuts with one top-25 finish. Best finish T-23rd in the French Open. Was 190th in the Race to Dubai. He finished T-63rd in the Portugal Masters, his last competitive start on any tour. Played in four PGA Tour events, best finish T-51st at the Masters
Had been a Golf Channel and Turner Sports analyst for years and joined CBS in 2020. After Nick Faldo retired from CBS in 2022, Immelman was named the new lead golf analyst for 2023.
Has not played competitively since 2019.