The Entrepreneurial Pro

That opportunity arose when he acquired a new sponsor and was looking for a company that would make him a customised golf bag bearing that company's corporate colours and logos. Approaching a friend who had dealings with a number of factories in mainland China, Stewart discovered a niche in the market. There are countless golf product suppliers across the border but few that can effectively market themselves outside of the country. As long as he could guarantee the quality of the merchandise, Stewart felt that with the contacts he had made as a tour pro, setting up a business could be a viable venture.

He's been proved right.

"I had to start from scratch," remembers Stewart. "But after eight years on tour I had a huge contact list – whether they were CEOs of companines that I had played with at Pro-Ams, sports management firms or event organizers. The point is that the business stems directly from my playing career."

Stewart's company now supplies customised products – from golf bags, umbrellas and caps, to holdalls, headcovers and gloves – to multinationals and smaller firms alike.

"We started out with golf bags – and they're still our best-selling item – but we've expanded to include a whole range of items," says Stewart. "We're really a one-stop shop."

Clients include Volvo, HSBC and a certain two-time major champion, John Daly. "We have to make his bag a little out there – it needs to stand out," Stewart laughs.

Stewart acknowledges that one of his biggest advantages, aside from his own golfing expertise which counts for a great deal, is his location. Being based in Hong Kong, on the doorstep of the biggest manufacturing powerhouse in the world, is a definite boon.

"Many of my clients, especially in the United States, like the fact that I'm here," confirms Stewart. "They know I'm travelling to the factories and ensuring the quality of the products is as it should be, which is something that would be difficult to guarantee if I was based anywhere else."

Ensuring quality is Stewart's mantra.

"In my line of work you have to keep your customers happy," he says. "The fabrics we use are vastly superior and we go to a lot of effort sourcing new materials. Even something that might seem small, like a zip on a bag, has to be of a high quality. The company's name is my name, so getting things exactly right is very important to me. Quality is paramount."