Teamed up in September 2005 with coach Clive Tucker, the man David Howell credited for giving him the swing capable of competing in – and indeed winning – The Ryder Cup, and reaped the rewards with an outstanding season on the 2006 Challenge Tour. Secured his first victory as a professional at the 2006 Thomas Björn Open en route to tenth place in the Challenge Tour Rankings, but struggled to take that form with him onto The European Tour in 2007, which meant a return to the Challenge Tour the following year. Despite not adding to his tally of victories, he bounced back to The European Tour at the first time of asking thanks largely to seven top ten finishes, which saw him finish the season in 16th place in the Rankings.