CWMBRAN'S Matthew Griffiths spent several days this summer playing alongside the top European professionals in the British and Wales Opens.

Now he is just two steps away from being able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke week in, week out.

Griffiths flies to Spain today to prepare for the second round of the European Tour's qualifying school.

And the aspiring professional is quietly confident about his chances of joing the elite.

"I'm playing well at the moment but the weather has meant I can't get out on to the course much," said Griffiths.

"There aren't many tournaments that I can get in at this stage so you can lose a bit of the competitive edge, but that's something you get over. I'm quite confident about my chances."

This is Griffiths' first experience of the qualifying school, but he's feeling fairly relaxed about the challenge ahead.

"There isn't a huge amount of difference between the amateur and professional game, it's more about the mental confidence side of the game," he said.

"I was at the British Open and the experience was invaluable. I'm better under pressure than I used to be and I know my golf can stand up to it, and I think the experience of the Open and qualifying for it has a lot to do with that."

Although Griffiths maintains that in terms of technical ability there isn't much difference between the professional and amateur game, the attitude of the tour players is different.

"The attitude is much more professional, there's not so much talking and nobody's your friend, nobody cares how you do.

"But that's understandable, it's everyone's living, It doesn't both me though. I keep to myself and me and my caddy do our own thing.

"I'm not really scared of what lies ahead, I'll go in confident , I'm in a good position and know what I have to shoot to get into the next round.

"I like the pressure of the professional game."