Mark Wiggett will fulfil a boyhood ambition when he steps onto the first tee at Wentworth for the opening round of the Volvo PGA Championship tomorrow.

"I have always wanted to play on the European Tour and my dream is coming true," he said before setting off for a practice round at the famous Surrey course at Virginia Water.

"I will be a little nervous, of course, but I will have a number of friends following me round. I just hope I can play to my best form.

"As long as I don't let myself down I'll be happy. I realise I must raise the level of my game but it is every player's target to make the cut. I would love to still be in the tournament at the weekend."

The Boscombe-born Dudsbury touring professional realises this could be his big chance for glory. He is never likely to become a regular on the European Tour as he turns 37 in September.

If he beats the halfway cut he would more than double his previous best cheque. That was £1,350 for winning the Principal Hotels South West Championship at the Manor House Hotel, Moretonham-pstead, 12 months ago.

He went on to enjoy a remarkable season of success to earn the right to appear on the same glittering stage as big name players like Montgomerie, Goosen, Faldo, Harrington and Westwood.

He also finished top in the next two West Region order of merit tournaments, the Welsh Classic at the Rhondda and the Wood BMW Classic on his home course.

Only a late-season slump deprived him of the title when Welshman Sion Bebb displaced him by a handful of points at the top on the final day of the season.

But Wiggett was not unduly disheartened. He still qualified for Wentworth as runner-up and he will also play in the Wales Open at Celtic Manor in August.

Wiggett's one previous European Tour appearance was in the 1994 Benson and Hedges International at St Mellion.