Fulfilled the potential he showed as an amateur by winning a European Tour card for 2011 via the 2010 Qualifying School Final Stage, a feat he described as a “dream come true”, and kept his card by finishing 106th in The Race to Dubai. Improved on that by taking 52nd spot in 2012 thanks to fine performances in key events, including a superb spell in the Far East, where he was tied 11th in the Maybank Malaysian Open, tied fourth in the Volvo China Open and tied third in the Ballantine’s Championship. Started playing golf aged eight and by 15 realised he could make a living from the sport. Won the European Individual Amateur Championship in 2009, the year he made it to number one in the World Amateur Rankings. Came 24th in his first tournament as a professional, the 2010 Nordea Scandinavian Masters, but says his prize money of €16,400 went towards paying the rent for his apartment in the expensive French town of Cannes. Good friends with compatriot Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, who lives nearby, and the pair often play golf together. Also enjoys playing squash and tennis.