Took up the game with some friends aged 11, when he would go down to the local club to hone his skills. Played some rugby union as a junior but soon opted for golf. Coached by Rowan Dummett in Melbourne, and admires Ernie Els and Retief Goosen in particular for the way they play the game. Worked hard on his swing and fitness during 2005, and reaped the rewards as he progressed through all three stages of The European Tour Qualifying School to earn his card. Held on to it by the narrowest of margins when finishing 115th on the 2006 Order of Merit. Dropped out of the exempt places in 2007 but bounced back through the Qualifying School – Final Stage by claiming the 20th card, and in his first event of the new campaign he finished joint fourth in the Michael Hill New Zealand Open – his best European Tour performance. Subsequently struggled to reproduce that form and so returned to the Final Stage, where he finished in 19th place to secure another season on The European Tour.