Thomas Aiken

First picked up a club at age 4 when his brother taught him the grip. By age 9, he was receiving instruction from renowned coach Martin Witcher, who also taught Tony Johnstone and Mark McNulty. At age 14, he joined the academy at Randpark Golf Club.
In 2001, Aiken was crowned South African Amateur of the Year in recognition of ten wins and 15 top-three finishes. He also topped the 2005 Sunshine Tourâ??s Winter Swing and competed on the Web.com Tour in 2007 before earning his European Tour card through the Qualifying School Final Stage the same year.
He had his breakthrough on the European Tour with a victory in the 2011 Open de Espana, which he dedicated to Seve Ballesteros, who died on the weekend of the tournament. He added a second European Tour win in March 2013 at the Avantha Masters in India.
Aiken loves all sports, especially rugby. He played cricket on the provincial level as a fast bowler, and in his mid-teens had to choose between tennis and golf, opting for the latter because the scenery was more interesting. Sporting genes run in his family with his mother, father and uncle all competing in various sports at the provincial level, and a brother who was one of South Africa's top tennis players.
2014 Notes: Chalked up his third European win at Africa Open, defeating Oliver Fisher in a playoff. Had a pair of T-5th finishes at Joburg Open and Qatar Masters. One more top-ten on the European Tour, T-7th at BMW PGA Championship. He finished the year 55th in the Race to Dubai.
2015 Notes: Played in 20 events on the European Tour and had five top-10 finishes. Best was 4th at AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, also had a T-5th at The South African Open. Finished 66th in the Race to Dubai. Played in four PGA Tour events and best finish was T-23rd in the WGC-Cadillac Championship. Played in the Web.com Tour Finals as one of six non-members seeking to secure 2015-16 PGA Tour status. After missing the cut in the first three Finals' tournaments, needed a big week at the Web.com Tour Championship to have any chance of earning his PGA Tour card for the first time. Rounds of 69-67-69 and a Sunday 65 turned out to be just enough. His T-5th was worth $35,125, allowing him to capture the 23rd spot on the Finals' money list by $2,919. Was one of five players who was outside top 25 and played his way into a card at the Web.com Tour Championship. Was 46th on the final priority-ranking order.
2016 Notes: Made 23 starts on the PGA Tour but only made 12 cuts, best finish was T15th at the Zurich Classic. Finished 166th in the FedExCup race, so went to the Web.Com Tour Finals. In three starts had a T-24th at the Albertsons Boise Open and T-29th at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship for a 51st place finish on the Finals money list. Also played in 9 events on the European Tour making the cut in all 9 with one top-10 at the BMW PGA Championship. Finished the year 76th in the Race to Dubai standings.
2017 Notes: Started his year with a T-4th at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and then T-5th at the BMW South African Open. Had another top-ten with a T-4th at the Qatar Masters. Has played in three Web.com Tour events, T-55th at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open and missed the cut at the United Leasing & Finance and the Mexico Championship.
2018 Notes: Played in 29 European Tour events making 16 cuts with three top-ten finishes. Was 74th in the Race to Dubai. Best finish 2nd in the Nordea Masters, losing a playoff to Paul Waring.
2019 Notes: Played in 18 European Tour events making 12 cuts with one top-ten finish. Was 145th in the Race to Dubai. Was T-3rd at the South African Open.
2020 Notes: Played in just seven European Tour events making two cuts T-33rd at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and T-60th at the BMW PGA Championship.