Determined Dougherty aiming to enjoy himself

NICK DOUGHERTY yesterday vowed to play golf with a smile on his face in this week’s Scandinavian Masters – after receiving a ticking off from his father.

Dougherty, 23, was frustrated to finish 12th in Hamburg last week after going into the final round just three shots off the lead, and that frustration was obvious to anyone watching back home on television.

"I spoke to my Dad afterwards and he was disappointed," Dougherty, who won his first European Tour title in Singapore earlier this year, said.

"He said it's the first time this year he's seen me look hacked off and I was, it was really getting to me.

"I want to make sure every time I play I enjoy what I'm doing no matter what the outcome. There are times when you can't be laughing and joking when you've just made a double bogey, but you don't let it get to you.

"You take it on the chin and move on and look forward to the next time you're going to make a birdie. That's what I'm concentrating on this week, enjoying it again.

Results are vital at this time of year as the former Walker Cup star and protégé of Nick Faldo is desperate to qualify for next month's USPGA Championship.

The top 100 in the world rankings are traditionally invited to take part and Dougherty is currently 93rd.

Victory in soggy Stockholm where yesterday's pro-am was cancelled after 180mm of rain fell on the Kungsangen course in the past few days would assure the Liverpudlian of a place, and his ambitions do not end there.

"I should be fine but I'm coming here to try and win and if I can play well here I don't need to wait for them to tell me if I'm in or not," added Dougherty, who was second in this event, albeit in Malmo, in 2003.

"They've put the ball in my court and that's all I can ask. And because I've got no points to defend from last year I've got every chance, if I win another tournament which is very possible the way I'm playing I could break the top 50.

Dougherty's Walker Cup team-mate Luke Donald has not returned to defend the title he won in Malmo last year, so the main challenge is likely to come from 2003 winner and world number seven Adam Scott.

Also in the field are last week's winner Niclas Fasth, fellow Swedes Jesper Parnevik and Joakim Haeggman and Mark Hensby.