Was the story of the 2012 Qualifying School Final Stage when, as an amateur, he was in contention throughout the six-round tournament. Eventually took the sixth card and turned professional immediately, signing off on a stellar amateur career which featured wins in the German and Portuguese International Amateur Championships that year. Also represented Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup in 2010, the same year he won both the French and German Boys Championships. A member of Golf Club St Leon-Rot, he started playing aged six when his grandfather introduced him to the game, and realised when he was 13 that he could be a professional if he worked hard enough. Idolised Tiger Woods in his youth and now looks up to countryman Martin Kaymer, who he met at the 2012 BMW International Open. Considered going to college in America but decided to turn professional instead, and is now aiming for a top 60 finish in The 2013 Race to Dubai. Is a close friend of fellow rookie and compatriot Max Kieffer, who came through the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2012.