Trevor Immelman

Trevor Immelman is a South African former professional golfer who won the 2008 Masters Tournament, holding off Tiger Woods just weeks after surgery to remove a tumour from his diaphragm.

Just months after surgery to remove a benign tumour from his diaphragm, Trevor Immelman led every round of the 2008 Masters Tournament and held off a closing Tiger Woods to win by three strokes, becoming only the second South African after Gary Player to claim the green jacket. Trevor took up golf at age five, won the South African Amateur Championship in 1997, and turned professional in 1999. Immelman built his early career on the Sunshine Tour and European Tour before earning a PGA Tour card, and was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2006 after winning the Western Open. In December 2007, he withdrew from the South African Airways Open with breathing difficulties, and doctors discovered a golf-ball-sized tumour on his diaphragm, later confirmed as benign; surgery and recovery caused him to miss the first eight weeks of the 2008 season. Just months after his surgery, Immelman produced the finest performance of his career at the 2008 Masters Tournament, leading or sharing the lead after every round at Augusta National and holding off a closing charge from Tiger Woods to win by three strokes, becoming the second South African, after Gary Player, to win the Masters. Injuries increasingly limited his playing career in the years that followed, and Immelman transitioned into broadcasting, becoming a respected golf analyst, before serving as captain of the International team at the 2022 Presidents Cup, having previously represented the team as a player in 2005 and 2007.

Meticulous, consistent ball-striker with a smooth, technically sound swing

The second South African to win the Masters after Gary Player, later becoming a leading golf broadcaster and Presidents Cup captain

• Masters Tournament winner (2008)
• 2x PGA Tour winner
• PGA Tour Rookie of the Year (2006)
• Presidents Cup captain (2022)