One of golf's most exciting young talents yesterday took the step which opens the door to him becoming a European Tour star.
A month short of his 20th birthday, Aaron Baddeley has already won the Australian Open twice - first as an amateur and again last November in only his second tournament as a professional.
Before teeing off in the Greg Norman Holden International starting in Sydney tomorrow, Baddeley has paid the £2,000 fee which makes him an affiliate member of the European circuit.
Because this week's tournament is co-sanctioned any money he earns will count towards the Order of Merit and come November could spare him a trip to the dreaded qualifying school.
It is the route taken by 21year-old Sergio Garcia and 20year-old Adam Scott, both of whom are also in this week's line-up at The Lakes.
Garcia turned pro in April 1999 and won the Irish Open on only his sixth start, while Baddeley's fellow Australian Scott left the amateur ranks in June last year, did well enough to avoid the school and then three weeks ago earned himself a two-year tour exemption by capturing the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.
Baddeley, whose first Australian Open victory brought him invitations to the US Masters and US Open last season, left his switch until after he had represented his country in the World Amateur Team Championship in Berlin last August.
By retaining his national title - and being able to accept the £90,000 winner's cheque this time - Baddeley did something previously only achieved since 1960 by Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman.
The Melbourne youngster was back in the news less than a fortnight ago for another reason, however. Tiger Woods' coach Butch Harmon, who also looks after Scott, accused Baddeley of shouting his mouth off too much.
Baddeley called Norman for advice on how to handle the situation when Harmon's comments were published and he said yesterday: "To be able to draw off Greg's experience is so lucky.
"He's been out here for 20 years and has gone through everything. He told me to talk about it and I planned to ring Butch, but he was in Monterey with Tiger for the Pebble Beach event and I couldn't get him.
"I never said that I was going to win a tournament. I always turn up and say that my goal is to win. I'm not changing that - it's worked so far," he said.
