Born in Scotland but moved from Aberdeen to Australia at age 5 and became an Australian citizen in 1991. His father, George, an accountant, played off a single-digit handicap and was a member at Royal Aberdeen GC.

Was the world's No. 1-ranked amateur in 2005 after posting victories at the New Zealand Amateur Stroke-Play Championship, Western Australia Amateur Matchplay Championship, Sunnehanna Amateur and the Monroe Invitational. Winner of the 2002 Western Australi