Regained his playing privileges for The European Tour when he won both the Open des Volcans Challenge de France and the Golf Club Padova Terme Euganee International Open on the Challenge Tour in July 2003. Had played on the Tour in 1998 and 2000 but lost his card at the end of the 2000 season and did not manage to come through the Challenge Tour Rankings or the Qualifying School in either 2001 or 2002. Playing golf was virtually inevitable as his family lived beside the third tee at Sant Cugat near Barcelona. His father, Miguel was a member as was his mother, Cristina, and his younger sister, Ares. Took up the game as an eight year old and has been coached by Fernando Chaves at Sant Cugat since he was ten. Played for Spain in the Eisenhower Trophy in 1994 and 1996 and in 1996 he won the Spanish Youth Championship, a year after beating Francisco Cea and a young Sergio Garcia in the Spanish Amateur Championship.