hiː nˌɪɹli wˈʌn ðɪ ˈaɪɹɪʃ ˈoʊpən dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðæt fˈɜːst sˈiːzən, lˈuːzɪŋ ˈaʊt tə ðɪ ɛkspˈiəɹɪənst sˈæm tˈɔɹəns tʊ ɐ plˈeɪɔf.
He nearly won the Irish Open during that first season, losing out to the experienced Sam Torrance to a playoff.