Got his start in the game as a 14-year-old, borrowing his mother's clubs and playing at a local public course in his native England.

His mother did not take up golf until the age of 40, but is now a five-handicapper who shot her age in 1997.

Father was a professional motorcyclist who won a number of titles around Europe in the 1950s.

Worked as a market gardener, scaffolder and a joiner on building sites to help fund his career in the late 1960s.

Also has taught physical education and mathematics.

Was a fine cross- country runner before embarking on his golf career.

Had the unusual experience of playing and teaching the game on the desert courses of Dubai in 1988-89.

Some of the courses had sand tees, sand fairways and sand greens.

One of his sons, Graham, is a three-handicapper who played on an English universities team in 1994.

His stepdaughter, Becky, was a competitive gymnast.