With Marjet van der Graaff at the Euro Cup

Are you a fan of football and do you have a sporting idol?


I don’t have an idol. I grew up with soccer. My brother played it a lot and my dad loves it. I like Arsenal.

What is your favourite food?


My favourite type of food must be Japanese and Italian. I love teppanyaki and sushi.

What is your favourite golf club?


I don’t know if I have a favourite. The tougher they are the more I like them. I really liked the course down in Australia: the Metropolitan. That was a great course.

If you could have three people to make up a four ball, who would you choose?


Tiger Woods, Lorena Ochoa and my brother, because he would love that.

How much of an influence have your family been in your career?


My family have been a great support throughout my career. They have driven me everywhere all over the country to watch me play and allowed me to play so they have been there from the start.

You’re still only 21!


I’m still young but I had a pretty long amateur career and I waited an extra year to turn pro because I felt like I should be able to handle the amateur field before making the step to turn pro.

What did you achieve as an amateur?


Last year was a pretty good year. We came second in the European Team Championship and I tied for second in the European individual. I was fifth individual in the world amateurs so I thought that was a pretty successful year.

How nerve wracking is Q-School?


I don’t really get that nervous so to me it just felt like a marathon. You have to pick your time to chill and just wait and see what happens. If you make up your mind after the first stage, you still have a week left. It’s a marathon. Everyone can play well and everyone can have a bad round so you just have to stick to your own game and be patient.

How pleasing was winning the Comunitat Valenciana European Nations Cup?


During the week in Spain we had a lovely week. We were just so relaxed and enjoyed playing very well from day 1. We worked as a team together. We felt very comfortable. We were excited to play again as we had a long break after Australia. From day one we started off great and kept it going.

What type of music do you like?


Pretty much everything but I like pop and R&B.

What type of books do you like?


I like to read a lot. I like novels. I like a good thriller once in a while.

What type of films do you like?


I pretty much love every type of movie, it doesn’t matter what it is. It could be romance, action or thriller, it doesn’t matter. I like the Titans, the sports movie, I love that one.

What would be your ideal holiday destination?


I think a beach has to be included and a golf course. I couldn’t cope for very long without a golf course. I like sailing as well. I love Italy so I’d like to go there as much as I can.

What do you do to relax?


I like to do other sports like tennis and field hockey. I like to read, watch movies, listen to music and see my family, because I don’t get to see them a lot.

What would you like to achieve this year?


Of course I’d like to win a tournament individually. As far as I’m looking at right now, a few top tens would be nice and the rookie of the year seems very interesting. Those are a couple of goals. I will look back after Dubai, see what I’ve achieved and say, “Yes, that was good but it could have been a lot better.”

What would you like to have achieved in five years?


My goals would be to play with the best people that play golf. That might be going to America and maybe becoming world number one. Those are my dreams and hopefully they will come true.

What is your temperament like on the golf course?


Pretty relaxed and calm. Sometimes you can’t tell if I’ve had a good round or a bad round. Sometimes you can. Those are my bad rounds. Overall I’m pretty calm and quiet.

What is the strongest part of your game?


I think all round I’m pretty solid. I don’t think there is one part of my game that sticks out. I’m pretty good but overall I can be a lot better. One thing about me is I never give up, if I shoot 76 or 65.

You’ve got a mature head.


People say that, but that’s the way I am. People say I am very mature but I am just me!

If you weren’t a professional golfer, what would you have done?


I would have had a career in sports; maybe a coach. I would teach golf probably. If after a couple of years I’m done with playing, I’d love to teach.

Who is your favourite actor or actress?


Sandra Bullock and Sean Connery.

Do you have any other passions?


I don’t really have a lot of hobbies. I’m really sports minded and right now my life is all about golf.