Was tipped as a star in the making as a youngster, and began to fulfil that potential with victory in the 2011 Czech Open, which helped him finish 95th in The Race to Dubai. Took the same spot in 2012 thanks to some good form late in the year. Won Sir Nick Faldo’s Junior Series in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and wrote himself into the record books by becoming, at 16 years and 334 days, the youngest player to play in the Walker Cup when he represented Great Britain and Ireland at the Chicago Golf Club in 2005. Was the second-youngest Briton to win a place on The European Tour at the 2006 Qualifying School Final Stage where he played as an amateur before taking the fifth available card and promptly turning professional. Just kept his card in 2007, then made huge strides in 2008, losing a play-off to Thomas Levet for the MAPFRE Open de Andalucía by Valle Romano title. Lost his card in 2009, however, but bounced back in 2010 by finishing 81st, the highlight being a three-week spell in the spring when he was runner-up at the Madeira Islands Open BPI-Portugal, seventh at the Volvo China Open and tied fourth at the Ballantine’s Championship.