Archer turned professional in 1991 and entered the European Tour Qualifying School each year between 1994 and 2003, gaining his card in 1999 and 2002. Archer also found his way onto the DP World Tour through the Challenge Tour in 2004, thanks to a victory that season in the Rolex Trophy.
Archer finished a career high 29th in the 2007 Order of Merit, a season when he narrowly missed out on his maiden title with three second places including losing a play-off for the Omega European Masters title when Brett Rumford chipped in.
In 2011, Archer claimed his second Challenge Tour victory at the windswept ALLIANZ Open Cotes d’Armor Bretagne, while his third wind also came in strong winds at the inaugural Pacific Rubiales Colombia Classic in 2012.