A year ago Tyrrell Hatton was watching his golfing idols on television. Now, just 12 months on, the Marlow man is keeping pace with the best in the business following a fine end to his debut season on the European Tour.

A sixth place finish at the season-ending World Tour Championships in Dubai meant the 23-year-old ranked 36th in the Race to Dubai Standings – above more established names such as Hazlemere Golf Club honourary member and former world number one Luke Donald, who finished 50th.

Hatton, a former pupil at Great Marlow School, admits to being star-struck at first, but now feels he belongs amongst the sport’s elite following a string of strong performances throughout the year.

He said: "I’ve gone from seeing the guys on TV one year and then the next year I’m playing in the same tournaments as them. It’s been surreal.

"I’m getting used to it a bit more now that I’ve done it a few times. It’s great to be playing alongside them, and it’s even better when you’re playing well and competing with them."

As one of only 60 players on Tour to qualify for the Final Series, a lucrative four-tournament finish during which players accumulate points at each event, the Marlow resident entered a whole new realm of prize money.

Rounds of 70, 68, 68 and 70 at the season finale in Dubai saw Hatton take sixth place and prize money in the region of €185,000, taking his earnings for the year into the region of €860,000 (around £682,0000).

Ryder Cup winning golfer Henrik Stenson topped the leaderboard at the Jumeirah Golf Estates course, finishing four shots ahead of the Englishman.

Hatton has handled the step-up in class seamlessly, with strong finishes at events in Switzerland, Scotland and the finale in Dubai proving that he can hold his own.

"The Scottish Open was another event where I did well. There were a lot of great players there and I finished tied fourth.

"I obviously had a good week in Switzerland after that and it has been great for my confidence knowing that I can compete with the top guys, if I’m playing well."

The young golfer’s success in his rookie season has surprised most – with even the man himself admitting to having more modest ambitions at the beginning of the European Tour.

"At the start of the year I just wanted to keep my playing rights, so I just wanted to make sure I finished in the top 110. I obviously got off to a really good start in the New Year, carried on pushing and thankfully had a good end to the year."

Hatton has also enjoyed a meteoric rise up the official World Golf Rankings courtesy of his consistently high finishes on tour. The Harleyford Golf Club member was ranked 995th as recently as May 2013 but has now risen to 132nd.

The talented youngster is not content with his new lofty ranking though and is intent on breaking into the world’s top 100 players in just his second season on the European Tour.

He said: "I seem to like finishing sixth in Tour championships, and I did the same on the Challenge Tour the year before.

"Finishing sixth in Dubai was great. It was a fitting way to end my rookie year and it was nice to have all my family with me which made it a really good week.

"My goals for next year will be to get inside the top 100 in the world, I’d like to get my first win on tour and make sure I’m in the Race to Dubai again next year. Those will be my three goals for next year."