THE ROOKIE: In the first of a regular series, Stephen Browne, the reigning European Amateur champion, explains why, at 28, he's decided to try his luck in the professional ranks.

There is a certain symmetry in sitting here in a small hotel outside Birmingham, waiting to play my first round in the regional qualifier for the European Pro Mastercard tour, and reflecting on how I first embraced the game of golf. In some ways, this week is nearly like starting again, albeit a professional career this time.

My introduction to golf came as a 10-year- old, but it wasn't until three years later that I joined Hermitage Golf Club, where my father, Edmund, was a member. He had taken up golf relatively late in life (40), but from a first handicap of nine, he got as low as four.

My beginnings were modest. At 14, I had a handicap of 14, and I didn't get down to scratch until I was 21. I certainly wasn't a prodigy. It took a lot of hard work to get where I am now.

Initially I showed a greater devotion to singing as a member of the RTÉ Junior Choir, but that fell by the wayside when my voice broke at 16. I also played rugby for Barnhall - they have come on so much since then - as a hooker; I had the perfect build at that age for the position.

Gradually, though, golf became a priority and the focus was on improving. My early influences, and ones that have remained to this day, are first my father and then Hermitage's Simon Byrne. I can have a phone conversation with Simon, explain any problem and he can usually fix it there and then because he understands my swing.

Improvement was gradual - I certainly wasn't a Sergio Garcia - and I suppose a decision taken after losing the semi-final at the Irish Close in Killarney in 1999 proved a seminal moment in my career. At the time I was working for Bank of Scotland, but I realised that I would neither fulfil my dream of being a professional golfer nor become a millionaire businessman. I had to make a fundamental change.

I decided to take two years off from work, having reached agreement with the bank, to concentrate on golf. In the first year I worked exceptionally hard and made some progress, but last year things just mushroomed.

I lost in the finals of the South and the Irish Close, but then won the European Amateur Strokeplay title in Sweden. I was plus three going into that tournament and finished 28 under the standard scratch for the venue. This meant that I would finish my amateur career at plus five. I'm not sure if any other Irish golfer has finished on that mark.

It was great to be capped by Ireland because that topped a memorable year. It's funny, some people think that 28 is very late to be turning professional, but I view it as a positive. I have experienced a certain amount of life, had a mortgage and responsibilities, and at the same time have been able to do the same things that most guys do in the early 20s without having to worry about how it's going to affect a career. If I had been in a position to turn pro earlier, I might not have had the maturity to deal with the freedom that goes with tour life. In the end I might have ended up resenting the fact that I could not do "normal things". I don't drink that often any more, and I am much more into fitness. It's funny when people refer to the fact that golfers must have loads of time to kill during any given day, but when you analyse that it's not the case.

If you factor in a round of golf, about three hours practice and a couple in the gym, along with eating and sleeping, suddenly you have a very full day.

This week I am playing in the regional qualifiers (today and tomorrow at Enville) for the Euro Pro Mastercard tour; it is an amalgamation of two tours.

There are 40 places available in the final qualifying at Saunton in Devon next week, where there are 40 cards on offer for those players who make it after four rounds. The tour is mostly based in England with the occasional stop on the Continent, and one of the big attractions is that many of the events will be screened on Sky Sports.

If I didn't manage to secure a card then I would be hoping that my status as European Amateur champion would get me plenty of invitations to the Challenge tour, although you can't rely on that. I would also hope to get into the three Irish European tour events.

I have signed with Chubby Chandler and started my professional career in the first Challenge tour event in Kenya. I flew on a Sunday, missed a connection so didn't arrive until the Tuesday, and that was without my clubs which didn't arrive until the Thursday.

I didn't have a practice round, nor my clubs, so in some ways the figures you shoot don't tell the whole story. I am happy with my game at the moment. I was playing a fourball in Portmarnock last week and my partner and I were one down playing the 17th when I holed my second shot for a two. Maybe it could be an omen for this week.

I realise that I am very fortunate to be in the position in which I find myself, aim to enjoy whatever lies ahead and obviously to share a few experiences on and off the golf course.

(In an interview with John O'Sullivan)