Turned professional after winning the 2000 French Amateur Championship and started his first full season on the Challenge Tour in 2002 with three missed cuts. But gradually found his feet and came from outside the top 60 to secure his card with a fine end to the season. Had four top tens in the last six events including joint seventh in the Skandia PGA Open in Sweden. Going into the Challenge Tour Grand Final he needed to finish first or second and finished runner-up with a closing 67 to claim 15th place in the Rankings and earn the last card for The 2003 European Tour International Schedule.