World number one amateur Danny Willett lived up to his billing with a sparkling first round display at the Andalucian Open.
The Walker Cup player fired a six under par 66 to sit among the early pace-setters a shot adrift of Lee Westwood.
But the Yorkshire golfer's showing came as no surprise to Sheffield pro Peter Ball who first introduced Willett to the game as a teenager.
Ball, a PGA Fellow Professional, believes the dedication Willett first revealed as a youngster at his Birley Wood club will serve him well in the future.
"Nothing he does surprises me - he wants to be number one," said Ball.
"When I phoned him a few weeks ago he was number two in the amateur world rankings and he said number two doesn't count - I want to be number one. And a few weeks later he was.
"He is mentally strong, his will to win is absolutely unbelievable.
"He was always different to the other kids, practised harder, worked harder at his game and put in extra time where nobody else did, whether it was cold, raining or freezing weather - he was still there till after dark practising.
"Since 14 or 15 I knew he was different but couldn't put my finger on why."
Willett is now coached by Rotherham's Graham Walker but Ball retains a keen interest in his former protégé.
"I'm proud of what he's achieving," he said. "He will go as far as he wants to go - and he wants to go a long way.
"I'm quietly optimistic he will do better than most. He always wanted to be a golfer - he loves the game. If you love the game it makes a world of difference. It's not a job it's a passion - he lives and breathes it."
Willett is just one of thousands of Sheffield youngsters Ball has introduced to golf at his Birley Wood club with the talented youngster looks set for a brilliant future.
"Trevor Walker, MD from Spalding who helped me set up the scheme here said one day you will unearth a diamond," recalls Ball.
"The further he goes the more I smile to myself and think maybe Danny is that diamond."