Son of a cardiologist, had boyhood dreams of playing football for Juventus or becoming an Olympic ski champion. Instead, he focused on golf and won the Italian Open Amateur and Closed Championships in 1986. Turned pro that year. In 1997 he was just glad to be alive after being struck by lightning at Guadalmina during the Tour School. After a hospital check, he completed his fourth and final round the next day, finishing 69th.