Meet Britain's rising star - and NCG's new columnist

Well, here goes. Nick warned me last month that writing this column is harder than holing downhill putts with a lot of borrow on them - but I'll do my best! Seriously though, I'm delighted Nick has passed the NCG baton to me and I hope you enjoy my diary over the forthcoming year and beyond. It's certainly an exciting prospect and one I'm looking forward to tackling. Nick did it for four years before his achievements outgrew the column's purpose - to give an insight into the life of a young player trying to make his way on tour. His progress over the past year has been terrific and he's a real inspiration to me. He's offered to pass on some advice and I will definitely take him up on that when he returns to action. Happily, I've already made a good start to the 2006 season. In fact, Nick's got some catching up to do on the 2006 Order of Merit! To be honest though, I'm just delighted to be where I am right now. It's quite frankly the realisation of a dream I've had since I was three. My stepdad introduced me to the game way back then and ever since I've been determined to make my life in golf. Some of you will know that I am attached to Wentworth, an extension of the golf scholarship I was fortunate enough to undertake there. It's one of Europe's best clubs and I know how lucky I am to have benefitted from learning the game there. I wouldn't be where I am now with it. I've been there for over 10 years now and in that time I've worked for the caddie master's office, doing everything from organising the collection of the range balls to welcolming visitors to the club. It was all good fun and I enjoyed every day of my time at Wentworth. I'm now very proud to stand on the 1st tee of European Tour events with the famous name on my bag. I'm often being asked how well I know Ernie Els, who lives on the estate. Well, the answer is not very well at all at the moment. I know him to say 'hello' to and I've heard he took an interest in my progress while he was injured at the end of last year. That's obviously great to hear and, just as Nick's achievements are an inspiration, it's really encouraging to hear things like that. Ernie is one of the game's legends and I've loved watching him play in the Volvo PGA, now the BMW Championship, and the World Matchplay for many years. In fact, it's watching these tournaments - and even the old Pro-Celebrity golf! - which fired my enthusiasm for golf throughout my childhood. That is the case for many kids but I am fortunate enough to have made a career in the game. As well as Wentworth I have my mum and stepdad to thank for supporting me from the start, through my time at the top of the amateur game and now as a pro. I loved my time in the amateur ranks and it's probably only now as I look back on it that I'm realising just what a special time it is in anyone's career. Winning the Tillman Trophy and the Surrey Colts twice were days I'll never forget while the victories Simon Griffiths and I enjoyed in the Sunningdale Foursomes will always be special to me. It was therefore a tough choice to leave the amateur ranks and turn pro, not least because there was the potential of playing in a Walker Cup match if I had stayed where I was. I felt the time was right to turn pro though so I don't regret my decision. My agent at IMG, Mark Booker, was instrumental in helping me decide what to do and IÕll always be thankful for his good advice. Funnily enough, another person who played a role in my decision was NCG's own Gary Wolstenholme. Gary and I were good friends on the circuit and he hoped I'd stay amateur so we could play in the Walker Cup together. But at the same time he told me to do what I felt was right. Again, I appreciated Gary's advice and I was delighted to see him get the GB&I points record at Chicago last August. It was disappointing to see GB&I lose the Cup but it was a fantastic match, probably one of the best in the history of the contest and one I know I would have relished playing in. I watched some of the limited action Sky were able to show - the USPGA was strangely scheduled at the same time - and it was gripping stuff watching guys I've played against on the amateur circuit fighting to retain the Cup. But as I said, I've no regrets about my decision. It's worked out very well so far and next month I'll write a bit about my first events as a fully-fledged European Tour player. Hope you enjoyed the first column, see you next month!