When Peter McEvoy was asked to describe a 16-year-old Oliver Fisher, he thought for no more than a moment before memorably suggesting that if you were to lift the skin of golf’s teenage sensation, you would discover an array of levers and wires. It was a compliment of the highest order.

McEvoy, the chairman of selectors for the Great Britain and Ireland team, was speaking on the eve of the Walker Cup match in Chicago in 2005 — the year Fisher became the youngest competitor in the history of the event — and was merely expressing his wonder at the player he had at his disposal that week.

It would only be a matter of time, McEvoy knew, before the Essex schoolboy attempted to join the professional ranks and that day arrived yesterday. Less than a week ago, Fisher completed six gruelling days of competition at the European Tour’s Qualifying School in southern Spain — having come through two qualifying stages — and played to the manner born.

In a field that included grizzled veterans and young wannabes, Fisher, now 18, finished fifth overall to secure his playing rights on tour for 2007 and went away to consider his options. Although delighted with his performance, his week was touched by a tinge of sadness with the death of his grandfather.

“The decision to turn pro wasn’t difficult,” Fisher, who signed immediately with Nike and IMG, who manage, among others, Tiger Woods, Colin Montgomerie and Retief Goosen, said. “It has worked out lovely.”

The finer details of the contracts are hush-hush, obviously, but Fisher did admit that it provided a safety net that will allow him to ply his trade without financial worries.

Fisher, mature and focused beyond his years, now plans to play in South Africa before Christmas, at the dunhill championship and the South African Open, and is looking forward to testing himself against the best in the game.

“This is just another stepping stone,” he said. “All my life I’ve progressed gradually and surely. To compete against the best in the world is where I want to be. I want to put myself in situations where I’m under pressure and see how I cope.”

He talks admiringly about the likes of Woods and Ernie Els, but there is no bluster when he says he will not be cowed. “You know they’re there, but the most important thing is to learn from them. You’re in awe of them, obviously, but you don’t want to be intimidated,” he said. “You have to have a certain presence about yourself as well. These guys know so much more about the game. They know what they can do and their limitations. They know when to go for a shot and when not to; to know which pins to attack. You could see it with the way Tiger played the Open this year.”

As if to emphasise that Fisher was about to be welcomed into the IMG family, he was presented with a birthday cake by Montgomerie at the HSBC Championship at Wentworth in September, where he played in the pro-am, then had a tête-à-tête with Woods.

There is no doubt that Fisher is driven. He sets himself high standards and expects to live up to them. “It’s pointless setting goals that are low,” he said, although his aims are kept to himself. “I’m hard on myself. I can deal with problems that arise, but you don’t get anywhere by allowing yourself to think it doesn’t matter.”

Among the calls he received congratulating him for his performance at the Qualifying School was one from his mentor, Nick Faldo. The former world No 1 has had a good influence on him since he came to the fore in the junior game several years ago, and Fisher admits he has been a great help. “To have someone like him behind you, who you can ask questions, is fantastic,” he said.

Yet after a day in which he experienced the full array of media interest — from television to radio to written press — Fisher had not forgotten those closest to him. His father, Rupert, will caddie for him for the foreseeable future and he is delighted. “We’re the best of friends and though we obviously have the odd row, we get on really well,” he said.

As if to prove that he will not be allowed to get above himself, the night before his big day was spent sleeping on the floor of his parents’ Chigwell house as he had been required to give up his bed to his gran.

“That’s home, isn’t it?” he said with a huge smile.