Nike Watney won his first PGA Tour 1n 2007, four years after turning professional, at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.  The victory broke him through the glass ceiling and into the top 100 of the Golf World Rankings for the first time. He then tasted victory again in 2011 by winning the prestigious WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral (he shot a 67 on the final round). He would then strive for more success in 2011, ultimately finding it at the AT&T National where he shot a course record 62, which included a 27 on the back nine.

In 2012 Nike shot a double eagle at the US Open, making him only the third golfer to do so, and then won the Barclays at Bethpage Black in New York.