First picked up a club at the age of 12 but it was not until the age of 15 that he first joined a club. Until that time his efforts had been concentrated on football, playing left midfield for Leicester Boys. But at the age of 15 he stopped playing football and golf took over. Financed his early golf career working in a glass factory during the winter.

Admires Bernhard Langer for the way he manages himself and Gary Player for his fitness. Met one of his heroes during his debut in the Open Golf Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2001 when he found himself on the range practising next to Player. At the time, was reading Player's autobiography and asked the South African to sign it, which he duly did after a short lecture on sit ups!

Topping the 2001 MasterCard Tour Order of Merit paved the way for him to finish 18th in the Qualifying School that year to gain his card for the 2002 season. Played 22 tournaments but finished 122nd on the Volvo Order of Merit, necessitating a return to Qualifying School, where once again he successfully negotiated the six round test, gaining the 31st card. Had to return for the third year running in 2003 but produced his best performance, excellent final rounds of 64-66 at Emporda seeing him gain the fifth card.