Secured his place on Tour at the 2005 Qualifying School after a season that included the highlight of his professional career – sharing third place at the 2005 dunhill championship with Ernie Els. “I took a lot of confidence from finishing alongside Ernie in South Africa. I have a long way to go before I can say I am as good a player as he is, but to finish alongside him at the dunhill was massive for me.” A trained lifeguard, Whiteley has been coached by Graham Walker since he took up golf at the age of 15.