In 2011 he won his first European Tour title at the Volvo China Open. He then reached the semi-finals of the 2011 Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain, losing to eventual winner Ian Poulter after a playoff hole in the semi-finals. These results placed him high enough on the year's ranking to get him a spot for the 2011 Open Championship, and two days later he won the European qualifying tournament for the 2011 U.S. Open at Walton Heath Golf Club. He finished the season ranked 20th in the Race to Dubai to secure invitations to at least two majors in 2012.