Dougherty targets Singapore recovery

NICK DOUGHERTY is hoping he can handle being the hunter as the defence of his OSIM Singapore Masters was thrown into doubt after round two.

A double bogey on the par three 17th left the Liverpudlian seething after seemingly playing his way to within a shot or two of the pace, then being set by Prayad Marksaeng.

The Thai, though, then took a triple bogey at the troublesome 17th and handed the overnight lead to local favourite, Mardan Mamat, at nine under.

Dougherty considers the standard of golfers at the event to be a factor in determining the winner.

“The calibre of player is not Monty (Colin Montgomerie) so there’s a good chance if there’s a guy who hasn’t won before or an Asian player looking for exemption on the European Tour, it might put enough pressure on them to stop them pushing on and getting to a score I can’t reach.

“There’s lots of work to do to catch them, but I firmly believe I can do it. I think 15 or 16 under will be enough.

“I’ve just got to hit it better.”

The 23-year-old, whose win here a year ago remains his sole European Tour victory, was equally dismissive of how he performed around the Laguna National Golf and Country Club.

“I didn’t play great, but even so, I was looking to finish eight or nine under,” he added. “I couldn’t get putts to drop.

“I hit a bad shot on 17 and had a terrible lie there and made double, but that’s the nature of the game.

“To finish five under is garbage really. Fortunately, there’s still plenty of time to get back into it. I’ve just made it harder for myself than I needed to.”

Perhaps, though, Marksaeng has made it easier than Dougherty feared.

The 40-year-old was on fire with six birdies in his first eight holes but he came unstuck on the back nine, something he put down to his insatiable appetite:

“I was hungry. I was eating bananas and apples, but there weren’t enough!

“On the 17th hole, my palms were sweating and when I hit the tee shot I knew it was headed into the water.

“I three-putted for the triple bogey, so I’m a little disappointed, but I’m playing well enough.”