Broke into the top 100 of the Order of Merit for the first time in 2003, finishing 84th after a season where his best finish was tied fifth in the 60th Italian Open Telecom Italia, but bettered that in 2004 where he finished 52nd thanks to four top ten finishes. Won the Nelson Mandela Invitational with senior golfer, Simon Hobday, in 2001 before finishing joint second in the dunhill championship behind Justin Rose in 2002. Secured his playing rights for 2003 with a share of fourth place in The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open, which helped him finish 105th on the Volvo Order of Merit. Excelled at rugby, golf and tennis as a youngster but became too tall for a fly-half at rugby union when he reached six feet! Stopped growing at 6ft 5ins making him currently jointly the tallest player on The European Tour alongside Robert Karlsson and Lars Brovold.