My background
I grew up in Anstruther and started playing golf when I was about four or five years old. My home course was there and then I played at Earlsferry Thistle and that was my home club from 12.
Later I played on two Eisenhower Trophy teams, the latter with Scott Jamieson and Richie Ramsay. They have gone to on to do great on the main tour. There was no real pecking order but Richie had just won the US Amateur so he was the highest- ranked player.
I was a member at St Andrews as it was so cheap but I very seldom played the Old Course as it was always quite busy and I never had a car at that age.
My career highlights (so far)
I won the Scottish Amateur at Gullane in 2004 and then the Scottish Hydro on the Challenge Tour three years ago. On the European Tour I was third at the Dunhill Links at St Andrews and then second at Leopard Creek.
At St Andrews I played with Luke Donald and he was great and was very encouraging. I also played with Jamie Redknapp and he was great so we had some good football chats.
On a scale of 1-10 my nerves were about a 10. When we were young we used to go up and watch the Dunhill so to play in it in the last few groups you think ‘this is a bit different’.
The nerves never really settle down but I quite enjoy being nervous on the course and I felt like not too much was expected of me. When I do get nervous I really try to enjoy myself.
Colin Montgomerie was my hero. It was fantastic growing up when he seemed to be winning every week on tour and winning so many Order of Merits.
My inspirations
Colin Montgomerie was my hero. It was fantastic growing up when he seemed to be winning every week on tour and winning so many Order of Merits.
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I have met him a few times and he has a great sense of humour. I have never played with him but if I could choose one person to play with it would be him.
He still has a great presence about him.
My life on Tour
The Challenge Tour courses are slightly easier than those on the European Tour but you still have to get the ball in the hole.
If there were any players to watch out for I would go for Tim Sluiter of the Netherlands. I knock around with Andrew McArthur and Steven O’Hara and Andrew has made a good start this year.
My setbacks
I missed out by one shot at the Qualifying School in Spain after three-putting the 90th hole.
It didn’t take too long to get over but obviously I wasn’t best pleased at the time.
I’m not sure how many events difference it would have made and, at the end of the day, you are going to miss small putts in your career. You have to get on with it.
I had a steroid injection in a disc in my back in 2008 and Stuart Barton, the former British Lions and Scotland physio, advised against surgery and it has been great ever since and I have been pretty much injury free since.
I have always been very lazy with my fitness but am now working with a new fitness trainer, Rob Wilson at St Andrews, and he has been brilliant.
