Looking to the Future

Of course, winning twice early in a career gives a player the belief that he belongs. There are plenty who have been on tour for years and have never won. No self-doubt from Pieters, though. "I knew I could win," he says. "First of all you've got to put yourself in a position to win, which isn't easy. Then you've got to close the deal. That feeling of winning was so exciting. I didn't back off. To be able to say you are a European Tour winner just sounds good. It's a special feeling."

Now what? "There are guys who have been out there for 15 years and have won four times. They get so much respect. I look at myself and I'm 23 and have won twice. There's no way I want to win four times by the age of 30. I want to win at least 20 or 30 times." How's that for honesty? No chance of Pieters employing the footballers' mantra of taking one game at a time. His unwavering self-belief punches you straight in the nose. Pieters reminds you of Ian Poulter - but without the attention-seeking hair and own-branded clothes.