Took up golf aged 12, after being inspired by Seve Ballesteros’ Open Championship triumph at St Andrews in 1984. Ten years later, he played in The Open at Turnberry and won the Silver Medal as leading amateur. Sat out most of 1996 with a twisted vertebrae, which was to prove the start of a catalogue of injury problems. Retired from the game in February 2006 to teach but discovered, through hours of work and computerised research at Sudbury Golf Club, changes to his swing plane and shoulder angle which enabled him to play pain-free for the first time in a decade. Built up his competitiveness in lower level tours, before returning to the 2007 Qualifying School – Final Stage and finishing 11th. Represents The Adam Bell Foundation on Tour, an organisation he set up in memory of a friend who died from diabetes. Has run a marathon to raise funds and pays regular visits to schools to try to raise awareness of the illness. Will play in 2009 under a medical exemption, having experienced continuing hand and finger problems which have disrupted his past two seasons.