Spent his formative years living close to a golf course at Carimate near Como, so it was inevitable, with a family who all played, that he should take up the game as a youngster. Encouraged initially by his father, a ten handicapper, and went on to win the Italian Amateur Championship at the tender age of 15. When turned professional, he had won that title no fewer than six times. Linked up with leading British coach, Denis Pugh, in 1997 - missed that entire season to work on improving his swing and the hard graft paid off with a play-off victory in the 1998 Audi Quattro Trophy on the Challenge Tour. Now coached by David Leadbetter. Back on Tour in 2001 after securing 17th card at the Qualifying School.