Received the traditional dousing in champagne from his fellow Frenchmen when he won the 2011 Sicilian Open by one shot from Anthony Wall. That was his third European Tour title following wins in the 2007 BMW Asian Open in Shanghai – a wire-to-wire victory – finally landing the main prize having previously won lesser prizes at BMW events including a stereo system for a low round and a BMW Z8 after a hole in one. His elusive maiden European Tour success finally arrived in Spain in October 2005 when he won the Open de Madrid on his 238th European Tour start. Graduated from the Challenge Tour in 1997 where he finished fourth on the Rankings after winning twice during the season. Dreamed of being a professional footballer until a knee injury at age 13 forced him to turn his attention to other pursuits. Took up tennis, then switched to golf and enjoyed a successful amateur career before turning professional in 1995.