Became only the third amateur to win a European Tour title – and the second in 2009 following New Zealander Danny Lee – when he captured the Irish Open at County Louth Golf Club in Baltray. The 23 year old beat England's Robert Rock at the third hole of a play-off. Has achieved a great deal in his young career, emulating his fellow Irish European Tour Champions Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley and Rory McIlroy by winning the prestigious Irish Amateur Closed Championship in 2007. Was also a member of the Ireland Team which won the European Amateur Team Championship in 2007, and then retained the title in 2008 at the Royal Park I Roveri – the venue of The European Tour’s BMW Italian Open. Other successes in 2008 came in the West of Ireland Championship and the North of Ireland Championship, which led him to being ranked at a career-high sixth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. His father, Brendan, was a famous Gaelic footballer who won the All-Ireland Championship with his home County Offaly in 1982.