Ian Woosnam was born on a dairy farm in Oswestry in Shropshire - just across the border - on 2nd March 1958. But even though he was born in England, his parents are both Welsh and he has always considered himself a Welshman.
Nicknamed Woosie, he was only seven years old when he took up his first club. He learnt to play in the local golf club of Llanymynech in Powys, where 15 of the holes are in Wales and three are over the border in Shropshire.
The club's website recounts the reaction of some members when Woosie first announced his intention to go professional in the 1970s:
"A group of former clubmates and county player colleagues spent days pleading with him not to take such a drastic step because they reckoned he was no better than thousands of other single player amateurs, including themselves, and one day would come to regret the foolish decision."
Beans and Greens
They were perhaps too pessimistic - although his early years as a professional were difficult. After qualifying for the European Tour, he spent the next five years driving around the continent in a VW camper van, living on baked beans.
During this time, he won only about £6,000 but he kept at it and was eventually rewarded with victory in the 1982 Swiss Open.
In 1987, he won a total of eight tournaments and topped the money list on the European Tour, becoming the first European to earn more than a million dollars in one season.
In 1988, he won the British PGA Championship. Three years and several more trophies later, he was ranked Number One in the world and a week later he was celebrating victory in one of the most prestigious tournaments in the golfing world - the 1991 US Masters title.
Some of his other big successes include the European Open (1988), the Scottish Open (1987 and 1990), the Irish Open (1988 1989), the Dunhill Cup (1985-1986, 1988-1991, 1993).
He has also played consistently in the PGA European Tour Events and has represented Wales more than 15 times in the World Cup.
Welsh Wizard
Ian Woosnam notched up another record in 2001 when he won the Cisco World Match Play tournament at Wentworth.
In what was described as a thrilling contest, the Welsh Wizard became the first player ever to win the championship three decades in a row (in 1987, 1990, 2001). At 43, he was also the oldest to take the title.
Luck hasn't always been with him. In 2001, Woosnam lost two strokes and his chance of winning the British Open at Lytham for having the wrong number of clubs in his bag. The Welshman stuck by his caddie Miles Byrne at the time - but sacked him two weeks later after he overslept and missed the first tee at the Scandinavian Masters. Woosnam had to break into his locker to get his golf shoes as his caddie had the key.
Ryder Cup
On his 47th birthday in March 2005, it was announced that Ian Woosnam had been chosen to captain the European Team in the 2006 Ryder Cup. His choice of players caused controversy - but Woosnam soon silenced his critics and led the team to victory, earning himself an OBE in the process in the Queen's New Year's Honours List in 2007:
More on the Ryder Cup from BBC Sport
Only 5ft 4in tall, Woosnam is considered one of the longest hitters in the game. In addition to golf, he lists his interests as fishing, sports and snooker (he succeeded Lord Archer as President of the World Snooker Association in 1999).
He and his wife Glendryth have three children and live in Jersey but are frequent visitors to Wales.
International golfer who led the European team to Ryder Cup glory in 2006.
