Held off the challenges of some star names to claim the 2012 Omega Dubai Desert Classic title, winning by a shot from Lee Westwood and Stephen Gallacher at Emirates Golf Club. Rose into the top 60 in the world as a result and made his World Golf Championship debut in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship two weeks later. Claimed his maiden European Tour victory breakthrough in the late summer of 2009 at the Austrian Golf Open, producing one of the great rounds of the year, a final day 60, to storm through the field for victory. Won the Spanish National Championship every year from under-seven to under-18 level after taking the game up at the age of six in his back garden which backed onto a golf course. Studied business, economics and business law at university, and still has to complete his degree. His studies were interrupted by his rise through the professional golfing ranks as he finished 14th on the 2006 Challenge Tour Rankings following victory at the MAN NÖ Open in Austria. Narrowly missed out on retaining his European Tour playing privileges, but secured an immediate return to the elite level courtesy of a tremendously consistent 2008 season on the Challenge Tour, during which he claimed his second title at the Credit Suisse Challenge. Grew up next to a golf course on the Canary Islands, and his sister Emma also competes on the Ladies European Tour.