Born near Verona, he started playing golf aged three with a set of plastic clubs. At 16 became the youngest winner of the Amateur Championship in 2009 before taking the silver medal for low amateur in the 2009 Open Championship.

He broke another record in April 2010 when he became the youngest player to make the cut at the Masters Tournament, where he finished in a tie for 36th place – the best performance by a European amateur for 73 years.

He turned professional and became the youngest winner in European Tour history with victory in the 2010 Castello Masters at 17 years and 188 days. Went on to win four titles by 20, including the 2013 BMW PGA Championship.

Was the second youngest full European Tour Member in history after his idol, the legendary Seve Ballesteros.