Alejandro Canizares

Canizares was born in Madrid and is the son of five-time European Tour winner and four-time European Ryder Cup team member Jose Maria Canizares. He attended college in the United States, where he won the 2003 individual NCAA men's golf championship while at Arizona State University.
He turned professional in 2006. Burst onto The European Tour in style, winning the 2006 Imperial Collection Russian Open on his third start as an Affiliate Member. At the time was the quickest Affiliate Member to win, beating Sergio Garcia, with whom coincidentally he shares a birthday, and Graeme McDowell, who each won on their fourth outing. Also became the third father/son combination to win in European Tour history, following Antonio and Ignacio Garrido and Craig and Kevin Stadler.
Canizares Played in three PGA Tour events in 2007, best finish was T-13th at the Mayakoba Golf Classic. He earned his PGA Tour card for 2008 through the 2007 PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. He divided his time between both the PGA and European tours during the season, but was only able to retain his playing status in Europe. In 16 PGA Tour events in 2008 made 10 cuts, his best finish was T-28th at the U.S. bank in Milwaukee. On the European Tour played in 16 events making 11 cuts his best finish was T-10th at the BMW PGA Championship and British Masters.
Stuck with playing on the DP World Golf Tour and between 2010 and 2016 was in the top 90 in the Race to Dubai. In 2013 became ill on a flight from South Korea to China and he was diagnosed viral meningitis and had to take a month off tour.
In 2014 won his second DP World title at the Trophee Hassan II, beating Andy Sullivan by five shots.
Since 2017 has struggled and in 2021 playing 24 events with three top-ten finishes was 98th in the Race to Dubai. His best finish was T-3rd at the ISPS Handa World Invitational and 3rd at the Dutch Open.
2022 Notes: Played in 30 DP World Golf events making 9 cuts with one top-ten. Was 159th in the Race to Dubai, his best finish was T-7th at the Omego Euroepan Masters.
2023 Notes: Was T-4th at the ISPS Handa Australian Open, the finish got him a spot into the 151st Open Championship. After finishing T-25th at the Magical Kenya Open he took some time off.